What is the term for the profit a firm retains from buying or selling merchandise?

The term for the profit a firm retains from buying or selling merchandise is gross profit. Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS) from the total revenue generated from sales of merchandise. This measure provides insight into how efficiently a company is producing and selling its products by demonstrating the profitability of its core activities before other expenses such as operating and non-operating costs are taken into account.

In contrast, net profit includes all revenues and expenses, including operating expenses, taxes, and interest, thus giving a comprehensive view of the company's overall profitability. Operating profit refers specifically to earnings from operations, excluding income derived from non-operating activities like investments. Revenue simply indicates the total income generated from sales before any deductions. Therefore, gross profit specifically targets the profit retainment related to merchandise transactions.