Stop order

A stop order is an order to buy or sell a stock or ETF once the stock reaches a specific price, also known as the stop price.

When the stock reaches your stop price, the stop order triggers a market order and is executed at the best price currently available during market hours only.

Stop orders are used to trigger a purchase should the stock price hit or go above the stop price. Or used to trigger a sell should the stock price reach or drop below the stop price.

Because these orders become market orders when triggered, at market open or during periods of market volatility, the trade may execute at a price far away from the stop price.

Stop order details

It's important to keep the following in mind when placing a stop order:

• The stop price does not guarantee execution price. A stop order becomes a market order when the stop price is triggered, and Sav is required to execute a market order fully and promptly at the current market price. Therefore, the price at which a stop order ultimately is executed may be very different from the stop price, especially during times of increased market volatility.

• Stop orders may be triggered by a short-lived swing in price. During periods of volatile market conditions, the price of a security can move significantly in a short period of time and trigger the execution of a stop order (and the security may later resume trading at its prior price level). If your stop order is triggered under these circumstances, it may sell at an undesirable price even though the price of the security may stabilize during the same trading day.

• Sell stop orders may exacerbate price declines during times of extreme volatility. The activation of sell stop orders may add downward price pressure on a security. If triggered during a precipitous price decline, a sell stop order also is more likely to result in an execution well below the stop price.

• Placing a limit price on a stop order may help manage some of the risks. A stop order with a limit price (a stop limit order) becomes a limit order when the stock reaches the stop price. A limit order is an order to buy or sell a security for an amount no worse than a specific price (or the limit price). By using a stop limit order instead of a regular stop order, you will receive additional certainty with respect to the price you receive for the stock. However, investors also should be aware that, because brokers cannot sell for a price that is lower (or buy for a price that is higher) than the limit price selected, there is the possibility that the order will not be executed at all. You are encouraged to use limit orders to prioritize achieving a specific target price over an immediate execution irrespective of price.

Buy stop order

With a buy stop order, you can set a stop price above the current price of the stock. If the stock rises to your stop price, your buy stop order triggers a buy market order during market hours.

Example

YOWL is currently trading at $6 per share. You want to wait to purchase YOWL until it reaches $8 because you think it’ll rise much higher, but only after it reaches $8, so you set your stop price to $8.

• If YOWL rises to $8 or higher, your buy stop order triggers a buy market order. Then, YOWL is purchased at the best price currently available to Sav.

• If YOWL stays below $8, a market order isn’t triggered, and no shares are purchased.

This example is shown for illustrative purposes only. Note that in some cases only a portion or none of your order may get executed if there are insufficient shares available at certain prices. Understanding order types can help you manage risk and execution speed. However, you can never eliminate market and investment risks entirely. It’s best to choose an order type based on your investment goals and objectives.

Sell stop order

With a sell stop order, you can set a stop price below the current price of the stock. If the stock falls to your stop price, your sell stop order triggers a sell market order during market hours.

Note

Stop orders created incorrectly or at a price that can’t be executed may be rejected. Check out Why was my order rejected for more details.

Example

You purchased YOWL for $10 a few months ago. It’s currently trading at $20 per share ($10 unrealized profit). Your goal is to make at least $5 per share if the price were to drop. So you create a sell stop order at $16.50. If YOWL reverses itself and starts to drop below the stop price of $16.50 it triggers a sell market order.

• If YOWL falls to $16.50 or lower, your sell stop order triggers a sell market order. Then YOWL is sold at the best price currently available.

• If YOWL stays above $16.50, a market order isn’t triggered, and you keep your shares.

This example is shown for illustrative purposes only. Note that in some cases only a portion or none of your order may execute if shares aren’t available at certain prices. Understanding order types can help you manage risk and execution speed. However, you can never eliminate market and investment risks entirely. It’s best to choose an order type based on your investment goals and objectives.

Over-reserving buying power

To protect your account against overspending, we’ll over-reserve your buying power for stop buy orders and trailing stop buy orders.

• For Good-for-Day orders that you enter during market hours, we’ll reserve an additional 5% of buying power.

• For other orders, we’ll reserve an additional 10% of buying power.

Keep in mind

These percentages might change in response to extreme volatility.