Fractional Shares: Definition, Examples, How To Trade

Each share represents one unit of ownership in a firm. But buying full stock is not the only option if you want to become a shareholder, especially if you want to invest in a big-name company but do not have a fortune. This is when fractional shares are a perfect solution.

In the guide below, we will speak on fractional shares, how they work, and how to become a shareholder without investing billions of dollars into stocks.

Fractional Shares Defined

A fractional share is a portion of a stock you hold partially rather than fully. Buying fractional shares gives a limited number of rights, but it enables the diversification of stock purchases while staying within budget. A company, mutual fund, or exchange-traded fund (ETF) may include fractional shares or portions of a whole share.

Notably, fractional shares are frequently the outcome of a company’s financial choices or actions. For instance, if an investor owns an odd number of stocks, stock splits may result in fractional shares. When two businesses join, their stocks are frequently combined according to a predetermined ratio, which might result in fractional shares. You could acquire fractions of shares if you reinvest your dividends as part of a dividend reinvestment scheme.

Understanding Fractional Shares

Let us see how fractional shares work on an example. Let us assume you want to invest your $20,000 and already have a varied portfolio (or are looking to diversify one). You locate a stock or ETF that trades for $130 and decide to buy it after conducting some research. Previously, you could have used this fund to purchase 153 full shares ($130 x 153 = $19,890). If you were to invest the whole $20,000, a broker supporting fractional shares would enable you to buy 153.8 shares (assuming there are no trading or transaction fees). And this 0.8 would be a fractional share.

Why Buy a Stock Slice?

The investor’s limited ability to raise money is the primary justification for purchasing fractional shares. They are utilized as a component of the dividend reinvestment scheme. Since a dividend does not give investors enough money to buy a whole share, a fractional share proves to be a wise decision. In addition, there is no broker interference here, and the fees are minimal.

Furthermore, anyone can trade using the money they have, thanks to the existence of fractional shares. High entry costs can be challenging, making market entry with few resources difficult.

Another major growth factor in this market is technology. Historically, it was challenging to divide large shares into smaller parts, but with the development of technology and the advent of fractional shares, it is now simple to do so. One benefit of purchasing these shares is that they are designed for risk-averse investors and enable them to test the market.

Benefits & Downsides of Fractional Shares

For many investors, the availability of fractional shares has created new opportunities. Stocks need less capital to purchase, providing you access to a more extensive selection of assets, particularly those with high share values. You might be able to start investing sooner as a consequence, and you could discover that diversifying your portfolio is less difficult.

Investing in stocks that match your interests and strategy, having access to more expensive stocks, exploring investments in more types of securities, and discovering more options for portfolio diversification are just a few of the significant advantages of fractional share investing.

Additionally, you may invest a modest amount into fractional shares and perhaps grow your investment. This is especially true if your investing horizon is lengthy. You can make money from tiny beginnings, and given enough time and the force of compounding, they can expand dramatically. They range greatly amongst brokeragesб you could notice variations in things like trading regulations, expenses, and fees. Research is always essential before making an investment, and this is true even with fractional shares.

The obvious downsides of fractional shares include access to a small stock selection because not every stock can be purchased in fractional shares. Furthermore, due to the possibility that fractional shares may not trade as often or quickly as entire shares, you might not have instant asset liquidity with your fractional shares. If you possess less than a full share, depending on your broker, you might not be allowed to use your voting privileges in regard to company matters. Certain brokers forbid the transfer of fractional shares to different brokers. Instead, they transfer any full shares and sell any fractional shares to give you as cash. If you possess fractional shares, you will get the dividends that correspond to the percentage of a complete share that those shares represent.

Fractional Shares Trade

On the stock market, fractional shares are often unavailable for purchase or sale. Instead, fractional shares can only be sold through a big brokerage company, which may combine them with other fractional shares to create a complete share. Selling the fractional shares could take longer than expected if there is a low level of market demand for the selling stock. Large brokerage houses will purchase partial shares from other investors in order to complete the transaction. Selling a portion of the shares will be considerably more challenging if the entire stock is not routinely traded.

Bottom Line

Investing in fractional shares gives you the chance to diversify your portfolio and take baby steps in starting your financial career. You have more freedom in how you construct your portfolio. Meanwhile, not all businesses may allow you to trade in fractional shares, which can prevent you from purchasing stock in a business you have always wanted to.