How to Set a Stop Loss on Td Ameritrade App
Basic Stock Order Types: Tools to Enter & Exit the Market
Before making your first trade, it's important to understand the different stock order types. Here's a rundown of the three basic types: the market order, the stop order, and the limit order.
January 7, 2020 5 min read
5 min read
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Key Takeaways
-
There are many stock order types, but the three basic ones to know are the market order, stop order, and limit order
- Placing the wrong type of stock order can become a costly error
- You can use different stock order types to match the current market situation
What's in a stock order? Just about everything. Think of it as your gateway from idea to action. It's where the rubber meets the road, where you pull the proverbial trigger, where a market opportunity gets real. If you're a trader or a self-directed investor, you'll likely be placing many buy and sell orders over the course of your investing career. So you'll want to make sure you do it correctly. Ideally, you'll nail it every time. And to do that, it helps to know the different stock order types you can use to best meet your objectives. Here's an overview of the basic stock order types, their variations, and the different situations in which each one might come in handy. There are three basic stock orders: It's important to understand the difference between each one and know how to use these stock orders. Not only do they each present a different route toward entering or exiting the market; knowing which "door" to enter (or exit) can also help prevent you from making certain mistakes that are avoidable and potentially costly. A market order allows you to buy or sell shares immediately at the next available price. If you're placing a market order to buy, you'll get filled at the next available "ask" or selling price (sometimes called the "offer"). If you're using it to sell (or sell short), you'll likely get filled at the next available "bid" or buying price. Typically, you'd use market orders when you need to get in or out of your position quickly. Remember: market orders are all about immediacy. Caveat: A market order may be fast and efficient, but that doesn't necessarily mean your fill price will be favorable—and not necessarily the same price you see on your screen when you hit Send. You're likely to get filled within a range near your target price—sometimes closer, other times further from your preferred price. This is called slippage, and its severity can depend on several factors. For example, thinly traded stocks may have wider distances between bid and ask prices, making them susceptible to greater slippage. Similarly, periods of high market volatility (such as during an earnings release or major market event) can cause bids and asks to fluctuate wildly, increasing the likelihood for slippage. Not all trading situations require market orders. There are other basic order types—namely, stop orders and limit orders—that can help you be more targeted when entering or exiting the markets. The stop order (sometimes called a "stop-loss" order) allows you to enter or exit a position once it reaches a specific price level. Once your activation price is reached, the stop order turns into a market order, filling at the next available ask price (in the case of a buy stop order) or best bid price (in the case of a sell stop order). Confused? Here are a few examples. If the stock trades at or through that price, your order becomes a market order at that point. There's no guarantee you'll get filled at or near $25.50. But in normal market conditions, stop orders are typically filled pretty close to the stop price. (This "no-guarantee" caveat is true in each of these examples.) Stop orders can be used to enter and exit the markets depending on your objectives and circumstances. But what if you want to buy a stock below its current price or sell above its current price? This is where limit orders can come in handy.
What Is a Market Order?
What Is a Stop Order?
The limit order essentially says, "I want to buy or sell a stock at a specific price or better." (You can also use a limit order to initiate or close out a position.) Many investors understand the "at a specific price" part but get confused by the "or better" part. Because the stock order is typically the very first step you take when placing a live trade, it should be done carefully and accurately. Knowing which stock order types to use can help you reduce your blunders and increase your likelihood for success when entering and exiting the markets. If you're new to the world of self-directed online investing, you might consider practicing in a simulated trading environment such as the paperMoney® stock market simulator on the thinkorswim® trading platform from TD Ameritrade. All investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. Want to learn more about basic stock order types? Watch this short video: What Is a Limit Order?
The Bottom Line
Basic Stock Order Types: Tools to Enter & Exit the Market
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Karl Montevirgen is not a representative of TD Ameritrade, Inc. The material, views, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and may not be reflective of those held by TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Key Takeaways
-
There are many stock order types, but the three basic ones to know are the market order, stop order, and limit order
- Placing the wrong type of stock order can become a costly error
- You can use different stock order types to match the current market situation
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Source: https://tickertape.tdameritrade.com/trading/basic-stock-order-types-16082