What are capital gains on an investment?

Capital gains refer to the profit that an investor realizes when they sell an investment for a price higher than the purchase price. This means that if you buy a stock, real estate, or any other investment asset and then sell it at a higher price, the profit you make from that sale is considered a capital gain. This is distinct from other types of income associated with investments, such as interest or dividends.

Interest income results from lending money or holding fixed-income investments, such as bonds, while dividends are payments made by corporations to their shareholders from profits. Additionally, income from investing in a new business would typically relate to a different concept, such as a return on investment or earnings from entrepreneurial endeavors.

Thus, the correct option encapsulates the essence of capital gains, focusing on the income derived specifically from the buying and selling of investments.