
Buying single shares of stock can seem intimidating, but it's easier than you think. Most brokerages allow you to buy as few as one share of stock.
To get started, you'll need to open a brokerage account, which can take as little as 10 minutes to set up. Some brokerages even offer accounts with no minimum balance requirement.
You can buy single shares of stock through a variety of online brokerages, including Fidelity, Robinhood, and Vanguard.
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What You Need to Know
Buying single shares of stock can be a bit tricky, but understanding the basics can make all the difference. You can buy single shares of stock through online brokerages, which often have a minimum purchase requirement of $5 or $10.
To start, you'll need to open a brokerage account and fund it with money. This will give you the ability to purchase stocks, including single shares. Some brokerages have no minimum balance requirement, while others may charge fees for low balances.
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Brokerages like Robinhood and Fidelity allow you to buy single shares of stock with as little as $1. However, some brokerages may have restrictions on buying single shares of certain stocks. Be sure to check the brokerage's rules before making a purchase.
You can also use a trading app to buy single shares of stock, which often have user-friendly interfaces and low fees. Some popular trading apps include Stash and Acorns.
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Investing in Stocks
Investing in stocks is a great way to make money, especially if you can identify growth stocks that are poised to grow faster than the market or average business in its industry.
To succeed, you'll need to track your stock closely, following quarterly or annual earnings and staying up-to-date with the industry. This will help you decide whether to buy more stock at a discount or sell.
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Investing in Growth
Investing in growth stocks can be a smart way to make money, by identifying companies poised to grow faster than the market or average business in its industry.
Stocks have historically provided higher returns compared to other investment options, but keep in mind that higher reward can have higher risk.
To track your stock, you'll need to continue following the company, tracking quarterly or annual earnings and keeping up with the industry. This will help you make informed decisions about buying more stock at a discount or selling.
Growth potential can help your money grow, and at times, it can even outpace inflation. This means that over time, your investment could increase in value.
As a stockholder, you become a partial owner of the company and could receive dividends, which is income you can keep or reinvest.
Dividend yields can change daily, but they provide an idea of the cash dividend expected from an investment in a stock.
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Fractional Ownership of Stock
Fractional ownership of stock allows investors to buy a portion of a single share, making it possible to invest in stocks with high share prices.
With fractional share investing, you can buy a fraction of a share, even if the stock costs $2,000 per share, like Chipotle Mexican Grill.
This is especially helpful for newer investors who might not have enough money to buy a full share.
For instance, if Chipotle Mexican Grill is trading for $2,000 per share, you could buy 0.25 shares with just $500.
Fractional share investing also lets you put all of your money to work, so you can invest your entire portfolio, like with $3,000, and purchase 1.5 shares of a stock.
Many brokers now allow fractional share investing, making it easier to get started with investing.
You can even start small, with no-commission online brokers not eating up your money with fees.
To take advantage of fractional share investing, you'll want to determine how much stock you can buy right now, and how much you can add to your account over time.
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Getting Started
You can start investing with a small amount of money, as little as a single share.
You can open an online brokerage account in about 15 minutes, which is a great first step.
Consider starting small, even with just a single share, to get a feel for what it's like to own individual stocks and ride through the rough patches.
What Are?

Stocks are a great place to start investing, and understanding what they are is key. Stocks represent part ownership in a corporation.
Each share of stock gives you a proportional stake in the corporation's assets. This means you have a claim on a portion of the company's profits.
Your investment value can change through fluctuation in share price. This can happen due to various market and economic factors.
Dividend payments can also impact your investment value. As a shareholder, you may receive a portion of the company's profits in the form of dividends.
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Flexibility
Getting started with investing requires flexibility to adapt to your changing financial goals and personal preferences.
You can choose from a wide range of stocks that align to your financial goals and personal preferences.
Investing is a long-term game, and being able to adjust your strategy as needed is crucial for success.
How to in 6 Steps
Getting started with investing in stocks can seem daunting, but it's surprisingly easy. You can open an online brokerage account in about 15 minutes.
To buy stocks, you'll need to open a brokerage account, also known as an investment account. This is where you'll store your money and buy and sell stocks.
You can find a broker by comparing options among the best brokers for stock trading. It's a good idea to shop around and find a broker that fits your needs and budget.
Once you have an investment account, you can add money to it. This will give you the funds you need to buy stocks.
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Decide How Many
You don't have to feel pressured to buy a certain number of shares or fill your entire portfolio with a stock all at once. Consider starting with paper trading, using a stock market simulator, to get your feet wet.
Paper trading allows you to learn how to buy and sell stock using play money. You can try it out with a stock market simulator to see how it works.
You can also start small by purchasing just a single share to get a feel for what it’s like to own individual stocks. This can help you determine if you have the fortitude to ride through the rough patches with minimal sleep loss.
Many online brokers offer fractional shares, which allows you to buy a portion of a stock rather than the full share. This can be a great option if you want to get into pricey stocks with a much smaller investment.
Some popular brokers that offer fractional shares include SoFi Active Investing, Robinhood, and Charles Schwab.
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Ordering and Trading
When buying single shares of stock, it's essential to understand the basics of ordering and trading. A market order is a request to buy or sell a stock at the best available current market price.
You can place a market order with your broker using the stock's ticker symbol, and it will be executed immediately and fully filled, unless you're trying to buy a large number of shares or a thinly traded stock. Market orders are best used when buying stocks that don't experience wide price swings.
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Here's a brief rundown of the two main order types:
A limit order is a request to buy or sell a stock only at a specific price or better, and it won't execute if you can't get your price or better. Limit orders work better on smaller stocks or when you're trading a significant number of shares and don't want your trade to move the price.
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Choosing the Right Order Type
A market order is best for buy-and-hold investors, for whom small differences in price are less important than ensuring that the trade is fully executed.
Market orders are best used when buying stocks that don't experience wide price swings, such as large, steady blue-chip stocks. This is because bid and ask prices fluctuate constantly throughout the day, and a market order will be executed immediately and fully filled at the best available current market price.
Limit orders give you more control over the price at which your trade is executed, but there's no guarantee that the order will be filled fully, partially or even at all. This is because limit orders are placed on a first-come, first-served basis, and only after market orders are filled.
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Limit orders are a good tool for investors buying and selling smaller company stocks, which tend to experience wider spreads, depending on investor activity. They're also good for investing during periods of short-term stock market volatility or when stock price is more important than order fulfillment.
Here are the key differences between market and limit orders:
Ultimately, the choice between a market and limit order depends on your investment strategy and goals. If you're a buy-and-hold investor, a market order may be the way to go. But if you want more control over the price at which your trade is executed, a limit order could be a better option.
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Trade with E*Trade
You can trade with E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, which offers easy-to-use tools and personalized guidance.
Pay $0 commissions for US-listed stock trades, making it a cost-effective option.
Their E*TRADE Mobile app and Power E*TRADE app allow you to trade online with ease.
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Find ideas with integrated Morgan Stanley equity research, giving you access to valuable insights.
Benefit from end-to-end control over orders, ensuring the highest speed and quality of execution.
Here are some key features of trading with E*TRADE:
- Pay $0 commissions for US-listed stock trades
- Trade online and through their best-in-class E*TRADE Mobile app and Power E*TRADE app
- Find ideas with integrated Morgan Stanley equity research
- Benefit from end-to-end control over orders
Sources
- https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/stocks
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/how-to-buy-stocks
- https://www.fool.com/investing/how-to-invest/stocks/how-many-shares-buy-stock/
- https://us.etrade.com/what-we-offer/investment-choices/stocks
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/how-to-buy-stocks/
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