How to Buy Stocks On eTrade
Trading stocks online can provide you with immediate information about how your stocks are performing, as well as real-time trade information for buying and selling stocks. Websites like eTrade allow people to manage their own stock portfolios without going through a broker. Before you can watch your investments grow, you'll need to know how to buy stocks on eTrade to fit your budget and purchase the quantity of stocks you want in any particularl company.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Create a username and account on eTrade by providing your name, address, phone number and other required personal information. This account will be the location where you can manage your stocks.
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2
Research the stock you want to purchase and make a note of the stock's symbol. The symbol is an abbreviated way of listing stocks without showing an entire name.
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3
Select the "Stocks" tab in the top left of your account page. Choose the account you want to use to make the purchase from the drop-down menu. If you only have one account to start with, leave the menu with your account name listed.
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4
Choose "Buy" from the "Order Type" menu's drop-down box. Type in the number of shares you want to purchase into the "Shares" field to the right. Enter your stock's symbol into the "Symbol" field in all uppercase letters.
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5
Verify on the box on the right that the symbol you typed is correct. The box will display the full name of your stock and list the price that each share is currently selling for, as well as the highs and lows of its pricing and the quantity of shares of that company.
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6
Select the "Market" option from the "Price Type" drop-down box. Below this box, choose "Good for Day" from the "Term" drop-down to make the trade based on today's value. Click the "Preview Order" tab on the lower right.
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7
Check the sample of your order for accuracy to ensure that you have selected the correct stock and that you have correctly listed the number of shares you want. This page will also provide you with the estimated total cost of your shares and the commission for using eTrade for your trading. Click "Place Order" if the information is correct.
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8
View the "Trade Confirmation" page that lists your trade and is timestamped with the date and time. Print this page for your records, if desired. From here, you can place a second trade by selecting "Place Another Trade" at the bottom right, or choose to view your portfolio or the status of the order you just placed.
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Tips & Warnings
Commission and contract fees may apply and can vary in price.
Research as much information about the performance of a company and its stock before making an investment. Stocks that appear to be losing money over time are not considered a good investment.
Stocks are not guaranteed to increase in value and any investments have a potential risk of losing money, including your original monetary investment.
