Contents of this article:
- What is a Manual Portfolio
- Understanding Holdings vs. Transactions
- Creating a Holdings Portfolio
- Creating a Portfolio With Transactions
What is a Manual Portfolio
A manual portfolio is one where you enter all investment details by hand. This approach gives you full control but demands consistent effort to maintain accurate and up-to-date records.
Understanding Holdings vs. Transactions
Before creating your portfolio, it’s important to understand the difference between Holdings and Transactions types of portfolio:
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Holdings: Holdings offers a snapshot of your current portfolio. By entering the average price of your shares and the number of shares you hold, you can easily see your unrealised gains. If you’re looking for a quick and simple setup, this tool is an excellent option for you.
- Transactions: Transactions include all buying and selling activities over time. This type of portfolio allows users to track every transaction and receive accurate analysis and detailed returns reports.
Visit our Getting Started article here to learn more about the differences and help you choose the best portfolio creation method.
Creating a Holdings Portfolio
- Make sure to be logged in first to your Simply Wall St Account
- Proceed to the Portfolios tab and, click the New Portfolio button
- On the right side of the page, you will find two options, to add your (1) transaction and (2) holdings data. Simply click the second option “Add current holdings”.
- Search your stock by typing the ticker or company name. Then, select from the search results accordingly. You can search and add multiple stocks before proceeding to the next step.
- Once you have added your stocks, just simply click on the Continue button found in the lower right corner of the modal.
- Input the number of shares and the average price. The system will automatically save your input and you can click on the Done button to close the modal.
Here's how it is in action (Desktop version):
Creating a Portfolio With Transactions
This type of portfolio is designed to allow you to monitor each individual transaction—whether it’s a purchase or sale—ensuring complete transparency and control. With this detailed tracking, users can receive a more accurate analysis of their portfolio’s performance, allowing investors to make well-informed decisions based on historical data and current trends.
There are three ways to enter transactions in a portfolio, select from the below to see more information and expanded instructions:
A. Using the Bulk Entry Table: A Complete Guide
Manually adding each transaction to a stock portfolio can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large number of trades. By bulk-adding transactions, you can quickly import all your buy and sell activity, making it easy to set up or update your portfolio efficiently. This approach not only saves time but also ensures your portfolio includes every detail needed for accurate performance tracking and returns analysis.
For a detailed, step-by-step guide, see our full instructions here: How to Bulk Add Transactions to Create Your Stock Portfolio
B. Entering Transactions One-by-One
How to Entering Transactions One-by-One
If you prefer a detailed and hands-on approach to tracking your portfolio, please follow the instructions below on how to create a portfolio by entering transactions one-by-one:
- Make sure to be logged in first to your Simply Wall St Account
- Proceed to the Portfolios tab and, click the New Portfolio button
- On the right side of the page, you will find an option to add your holdings and transaction data. Simply click the “Add transactions” option.
- Enter Each Transaction. For each trade you make, record it as a new row in the transactions sheet.
- Once done, click on the Save button.
How to Fill Out Each Column:
- Ticker: Search your stock by typing the ticker or company name. Then, select from the search results accordingly or just hit Enter on your keyboard.
- Transaction Type: Select from the dropdown if it’s a “Buy” or “Sell” transaction.
- Transaction Date: Add the exact date the transaction was executed. If you want to change the date format, just click the Change Format button.
- Shares: Indicate the number of shares involved in the transaction.
- Price: Record the price paid (or received) per share.
- Transaction Total: The system will automatically calculate the total based on the number of shares and price you entered.
Here's how it is in action (Desktop version):
C. Uploading a CSV file for Transaction Tracking (Coming soon)
How to Upload a CSV File for Transaction Tracking
Our upcoming CSV upload feature will allow you to effortlessly import all your buy and sell transactions directly from a CSV file. By simply preparing your transaction data in the right format, you'll be able to quickly upload it and gain an accurate, up-to-date view of your portfolio. We’re currently working on this feature and are excited to make it available soon.
Still have questions or need further assistance?
Don't hesitate to contact our support team through our support contact form or email us directly at support@simplywallst.com. We're here to ensure you have the best experience possible.