The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about the different types of orders they can use to buy and sell stocks through a brokerage firm. The following are general descriptions of some of the common order types and trading instructions that investors may use to buy and sell stocks. Please note that some of the order types and trading instructions described below may not be avail-able through all brokerage firms. Furthermore, some brokerage firms may offer additional order types and trading instructions not described below. Investors should contact their brokerage firms to determine which types of orders and trading instructions are available for buying and selling as well the brokerage firms’ specific policies regarding such available orders and trading instructions.
The two most common order types are the market order and the limit order.
Market Order
A market order is an order to buy or sell a stock at the best available price. Generally, this type of order will be executed immediately. However, the price at which a market order will be executed is not guaranteed. It is important for investors to remember that the last-traded price is not necessarily the price at which a market order will be executed. In fast-moving markets, the price at which a market order will execute often deviates from the last-traded price or “real time” quote.
Example: An investor places a market order to buy 1000 shares of XYZ stock when the best offer price is $3.00 per share. If other orders are executed first, the investor’s market order may be executed at a higher price. In addition, a fast-moving market may cause parts of a large market order to execute at different prices.
Limit Order
A limit order is an order to buy or sell a stock at a specific price or better. A buy limit order can only be executed at the limit price or lower, and a sell limit order can only be executed at the limit price or higher.
Example: An investor places a market order to buy 1000 shares of XYZ stock at $3.00 per share. In a fast-moving market, 500 shares of the order could execute at $3.00 per share and the other 500 shares execute at a higher price.
A limit order is not guaranteed to execute. A limit order can only be filled if the stock’s market price reaches the limit price. While limit orders do not guarantee execution, they help ensure that an investor does not pay more than a pre-determined price for a stock.
Example: An investor wants to purchase shares of ABC stock for no more than $10. The investor could place a limit order for this amount that will only execute if the price of ABC stock is $10 or lower.
In addition to market and limit orders, brokerage firms may allow investors to use special orders and trading instructions to buy and sell stocks. The following are descriptions of some of the most common special orders and trading instructions.
Stop Order
A stop order, also referred to as a stop-loss order, is an order to buy or sell a stock once the price of the stock reaches a specified price, known as the stop price. When the stop price is reached, a stop order becomes a market order. A buy stop order is entered at a stop price above the current market price. Investors generally use a buy stop order to limit a loss or to protect a profit on a stock that they have sold short. A sell stop order is entered at a stop price below the current market price. Investors generally use a sell stop order to limit a loss or to protect a profit on a stock that they own.
Before using a stop order, investors should consider the following:
Stop-limit Order
A stop-limit order is an order to buy or sell a stock that combines the features of a stop order and a limit order. Once the stop price is reached, a stop-limit order becomes a limit order that will be executed at a specified price (or better). The benefit of a stop-limit order is that the investor can control the price at which the order can be executed.
Before using a stop-limit order, investors should consider the following:
Day Orders, Good-Til-Cancelled Orders, and Immediate-Or-Cancel Orders
Day orders, Good-Til-Cancelled (GTC) orders, and Immediate-Or-Cancel (IOC) orders represent timing instructions for an order and may be applied to either market or limit orders. Unless an investor specifies a time frame for the expiration of an order, orders to buy and sell a stock are Day orders, meaning they are good only during that trading day.
A GTC order is an order to buy or sell a stock that lasts until the order is completed or cancelled. Brokerage firms typically limit the length of time an investor can leave a GTC order open. This time frame may vary from broker to broker. Investors should contact their brokerage firms to determine what time limit would apply to GTC orders. An IOC order is an order to buy or sell a stock that must be executed immediately. Any portion of the order that can-not be filled immediately will be cancelled.
Fill-Or-Kill and All-Or-None Orders
Two other common special order types are Fill-Or-Kill (FOK) and All-Or-None (AON) orders. An FOK order is an order to buy or sell a stock that must be executed immediately in its entirety; otherwise, the entire order will be cancelled (i.e., no partial execution of the order is allowed). An AON order is an order to buy or sell a stock that must be executed in its entirety, or not executed at all. However, unlike the FOK orders, AON orders that cannot be executed immediately remain active until they are executed or cancelled.
For additional educational information for investors, see the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy’s homepage. For additional information relating to the types of orders investors may use to buy or sell stock, please read our publication “Orders.”
The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has provided this information as a service to investors. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of SEC policy. If you have questions concerning the meaning or application of a particular law or rule, please consult with an attorney who specializes in securities law.