How do I make Etrade automatically sell a stock based on stock price slipping to a pre-determined price?
Question by Martin: How do I make Etrade automatically sell a stock based on stock price slipping to a pre-determined price?
Basically, I want to "program" etrade to sell a stock when it falls to a low point. For example, I have 1 share of ABC company purchased at $ 50 a share. The price of this stock has gone up to $ 60 a share, but now it is falling...I want to program Etrade to AUTOMATICALLY sell this stock when the price gets to $ 55 a share. How do I do this?
Best answer:
Answer by Livy
A stop limit is the order you would like to place. I use TDAmeritrade, so my experience is based off of that, but you will set an activation price (where it will start to sell) and a limit (where it will stop). If it's a blue chip or high volume stock you should have no problem filling your order with both set at $ 55.
You could also use a trailing stop. This will follow the price of the stock. Using your example you buy 1 share of ABC at $ 50. You set a trailing stop of $ 5.00. If it drops to $ 45 it would sell. If it goes up to $ 60, then drops to $ 55, it will sell there. If it goes to $ 75 and drops to $ 70 it will sell there, and so on. This will not only protect what profit you've attained, it will also allow the stock to grow for more potential profit.
Finally, take note of the expiration of the order. If it's day, you will need to reenter the order tomorrow. If it's GTC (good til cancelled) you will not.
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Filed Under: ETrade
Stop order.