5 Tips On When To Sell Your Stock (2024)

When it comes to investing, the decision of when to buy a stock can sometimes be easier than knowing when is the appropriate time to sell a stock.

Buy recommendations are prevalent and stem from a wide variety of sources, including investment newsletters, analysts, stockbrokers and investment managers. However, few offer much advice on when it is best to sell a stock. Here are five tips on when it might be time to sell.

Key Takeaways

  • Knowing when to sell an investment is just as, or perhaps even more important than knowing when to buy.
  • There are several good reasons to sell your holdings, both to lock in profits at the right time or to stem losses before they grow too large.
  • Having both fundamental and technical indicators, such as stock price target in mind, as well as keeping an eye on corporate actions and news is key to timing an exit.

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5 Tips On When To Sell Your Stock

1. It Hits Your Price Target

When initially buying a stock, astute investors establish a price target, or at least a range in which they would consider selling the stock. Each stock purchase should also include an analysis on what the stock is worth, and the current price should ideally be at a substantial discount to this estimated value.For instance, selling out of a stock when it doubles in price is a worthy goal and implies that an investor thinks it is undervalued by 50%.

It is difficult for even the most seasoned investor to come up with a single price target. Instead, a range is more realistic, as is deciding to sell off the position as it is rising, in order to lock in gains.

2. Deterioration in the Fundamentals

Along with keeping track of a firm's stock price after establishing a price target, monitoring the performance of the underlying business is important. A key reason to sell is if the business fundamentals decline. In an ideal world, an investor will realize a deterioration in sales, profit margins, cash flow or other key operating fundamentals before the stock price starts to decline. More experienced analysts may read deep into the financial statements, such as filing footnotes that other investors are more likely to miss.

Fraud is one of the more serious fundamental flaws. Investors who were early to spot financial fraud from the likes of WorldCom, Enron and Tyco were able to save substantial sums as the share prices of these respective firms plummeted.

3. A Better Opportunity Comes Along

Opportunity cost is a benefit that could have been obtained by going with an alternative. Before owning a stock, always compare it with the potential gains that could be obtained by owning another stock. If that alternative is better, then it makes sense to sell the current position and buy the other.

Accurately identifying opportunity cost is extremely difficult, but could include investing in a competitor if it has equally compelling growth prospects and trades at a lower valuation, such as a lower price to earnings multiple.

4. After a Merger

The average takeover premium, or price at which a company is bought out, generally ranges between 20-40%. If an investor is lucky enough to own a stock that ends up being acquired for a significant premium, the best course of action may be to sell it. There may be merits to continuing to own the stock after the merger goes through, such as if the competitive position of the combined companies has improved substantially.

However, mergers have a lousy track record of being successful. Additionally, it can take many months for a deal to be completed. Therefore, from an opportunity cost perspective, it can make sense to find an alternative investment opportunity with better upside potential.

5. After Bankruptcy

This may seem obvious, especially because, in the vast majority of cases, a bankrupt company becomes worthless to shareholders. However, for tax purposes it is important to sell or realize the loss so that it is used to offset future capital gains, as well as a small percent of regular income each year.

Selling a stock right after bankruptcy will often result in a large loss, but you may still be able to recover some cents on the dollar.

The Bottom Line

The decision to sell a stock is indeed a combination of art and science. There are a number of considerations to make, such as those above, when deciding if stock gains have run their course or are likely to continue. A common-sense strategy is to sell as a stock rises in order to lock in gains over time and to sell into losses in order to avoid them from spiraling out of control.

5 Tips On When To Sell Your Stock (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 proven methods for selling stocks? ›

These methods are the valuation-level sell, the opportunity-cost sell, the deteriorating-fundamentals sell, the down-from-cost and up-from-cost sell, and the target-price sell.

When should you sell your stock? ›

Investors might sell a stock if it's determined that other opportunities can earn a greater return. If an investor holds onto an underperforming stock or is lagging the overall market, it may be time to sell that stock and put the money to work in another investment.

What is the 5 stock rule? ›

In investment, the five percent rule is a philosophy that says an investor should not allocate more than five percent of their portfolio funds into one security or investment. The rule also referred to as FINRA 5% policy, applies to transactions like riskless transactions and proceed sales.

What is the 7 rule in stocks? ›

To make money in stocks, you must protect the money you have. Live to invest another day by following this simple rule: Always sell a stock it if falls 7%-8% below what you paid for it.

What are the 4 selling strategies? ›

The four basic sales strategies salespeople use are script-based selling, needs-satisfaction selling, consultative selling, and strategic-partner selling. Different strategies can be used with in different types of relationships.

What are the 4 basic selling techniques? ›

The four types of selling
  • Transactional selling.
  • Solution selling.
  • Consultative selling.
  • Provocative selling.

What is the best way to sell a stock? ›

Investors can cash out stocks by selling them on a stock exchange through a broker. Stocks are relatively liquid assets, meaning they can be converted into cash quickly, especially compared to investments like real estate or jewelry. However, until an investor sells a stock, their money stays tied up in the market.

At what percent return should you sell stock? ›

How long should you hold? Here's a specific rule to help boost your prospects for long-term stock investing success: Once your stock has broken out, take most of your profits when they reach 20% to 25%. If market conditions are choppy and decent gains are hard to come by, then you could exit the entire position.

What is the best day to sell stocks? ›

Best day of the week to sell stock: Friday

Stock markets tend to rally on Friday due to short covering by traders to avoid paying interest on a short position over the weekend, as well as on any optimism traders might have for market-positive news during the weekend.

What is the 70% rule in stocks? ›

The rule of 70 is used to determine the number of years it takes for a variable to double by dividing the number 70 by the variable's growth rate. The rule of 70 is generally used to determine how long it would take for an investment to double given the annual rate of return.

What is the 80% rule stock? ›

In investing, the 80-20 rule generally holds that 20% of the holdings in a portfolio are responsible for 80% of the portfolio's growth. On the flip side, 20% of a portfolio's holdings could be responsible for 80% of its losses.

What is the number 1 rule of stocks? ›

Warren Buffett once said, “The first rule of an investment is don't lose [money]. And the second rule of an investment is don't forget the first rule.

What is 15 rule in stock? ›

This rule is one of the most basic rules that help an investor become a crorepati. It says that if you invest Rs 15,000 a month for a period of 15 years in a stock that is capable of offering 15% interest on an annual basis, then you will amass an amount of Rs 1,00,27,601 at the end of 15 years.

What is rule 21 in stock market? ›

The relationship can be referred to as the “Rule of 21,” which says that the sum of the P/E ratio and CPI inflation should equal 21. It's not a perfect relationship, but holds true generally.

What is the 3 bar rule in stocks? ›

As we mentioned, using the 3 bar play pattern can be either for taking a long or short position. When the 3 bar play pattern appears, a trader usually enters a position once the third candle rises above the second, with a stop loss below the lowest level of the first candle. That's the idea of this chart pattern.

What are the 5 P's of successful selling? ›

The 5 P's of marketing – Product, Price, Promotion, Place, and People – are a framework that helps guide marketing strategies and keep marketers focused on the right things.

What are the 3 basic selling techniques? ›

This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
  • Product Selling. Product selling is exactly what it sounds like: selling the advantages or features of a specific product or service. ...
  • Solution Selling. Solution selling goes beyond simply selling products or services. ...
  • Insight Selling.
Mar 1, 2017

What are the four A's in selling? ›

That's why one of the most effective marketing strategies is using the 4 A model: Acceptability, Affordability, Accessibility, and Awareness.

What are the 7 keys of selling? ›

There are seven key selling habits you must develop as a sales expert. They are prospecting, establishing rapport, identifying needs, presenting solutions, answering objections, closing the sale and getting resales and referrals.

What are the 6 steps of selling? ›

A typical sales process can be broken down into six distinct stages:
  • Prospecting.
  • Qualification.
  • Approach.
  • Presentation.
  • Negotiation.
  • Closure.
Sep 2, 2021

What is the simplest way to value a stock? ›

The most common way to value a stock is to compute the company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. The P/E ratio equals the company's stock price divided by its most recently reported earnings per share (EPS). A low P/E ratio implies that an investor buying the stock is receiving an attractive amount of value.

Should you sell stock when its up or down? ›

While selling stocks during a market downturn might make you feel better temporarily, doing so reactively because stocks are tumbling isn't a good long-term investment strategy. Volatility is a normal part of investing in the stock market, so occasional market selloffs should be expected.

Do you sell stock when its up or down? ›

If the stock is a speculative one and plunging because of a permanent change in its outlook, then it might be advisable to sell it. But if it is a blue chip that has suffered a temporary setback, then averaging down is a strategy worth considering.

What is the 2 rule in stocks? ›

One popular method is the 2% Rule, which means you never put more than 2% of your account equity at risk (Table 1). For example, if you are trading a $50,000 account, and you choose a risk management stop loss of 2%, you could risk up to $1,000 on any given trade.

What is the 110 rule for stocks? ›

Age-Based Asset Allocation

For example, there's the rule of 110. This rule says to subtract your age from 110, then use that number as a guideline for investing in stocks. So if you're 30 years old you'd invest 80% of your portfolio in stocks (110 – 30 = 80).

Is 20% return on a stock good? ›

A 20% return is possible, but it's a pretty significant return, so you either need to take risks on volatile investments or spend more time invested in safer investments.

What month is best to sell stocks? ›

As a result, some traders believe that September and October are the best months to sell stocks. The September effect highlights historically weak returns during the ninth month of the year, which could be aided by institutional investors wrapping up their third-quarter positions.

What time of day are stock prices lowest? ›

Afternoon Hours. After the morning mayhem, price movements and trading volume tend to settle down. Company news released during the midday or afternoon hours seldom creates the volatility seen after the open.

What is the 10 am rule in stocks? ›

A trading rule states that you should never place a trade at 10 in the morning. This is because prices are much more likely to fluctuate in one direction or the other at that time due to the markets' typically higher volatility. As a result, it's frequently seen to be a bad time to make any trades.

What is 50 rule in stock market? ›

The fifty percent principle is a rule of thumb that anticipates the size of a technical correction. The fifty percent principle states that when a stock or other asset begins to fall after a period of rapid gains, it will lose at least 50% of its most recent gains before the price begins advancing again.

What is the 90 120 rule in stocks? ›

For example, if you're 30 years old, subtracting your age from 120 gives you 90. Therefore, you would invest 90% of your retirement money in stocks and 10% into more consistent financial instruments. This rule creates a portfolio that gradually carries less risk.

What is the 3 5 7 rule in stocks? ›

The strategy is very simple: count how many days, hours, or bars a run-up or a sell-off has transpired. Then on the third, fifth, or seventh bar, look for a bounce in the opposite direction. Too easy? Perhaps, but it's uncanny how often it happens.

What are 40 rules stock? ›

SaaS Industry: Rule of 40 Guideline

In recent years, the 40% rule has gained widespread usage as a popularized measure of growth by SaaS investors. The Rule of 40 states that if a company's revenue growth rate were to be added to its profit margin, the total should exceed 40%.

What is the rule of 42 stocks? ›

The so-called Rule of 42 is one example of a philosophy that focuses on a large distribution of holdings, calling for a portfolio to include at least 42 choices while owning only a small amount of most of those choices.

What is rule 6 stocks? ›

At some point an investor will wish to sell their share investment. To ensure they can sell the entire holding at any time, we suggest that the average 'daily volume traded' figure is at least five times the exposure level.

What is the 4 stock rule? ›

The 4% rule is easy to follow. In the first year of retirement, you can withdraw up to 4% of your portfolio's value. If you have $1 million saved for retirement, for example, you could spend $40,000 in the first year of retirement following the 4% rule.

Which stock lot should I sell first? ›

Shares with the greatest cost basis are sold first. If more than one lot has the same price, the lot with the earliest acquisition date is sold first. Shares with a long-term holding period are sold first, beginning with those with the greatest cost basis.

What is rule of 8 in stock market? ›

What is the 8-week hold rule in stock investing? The 8-week hold rule, developed by Investor's Business Daily (IBD), states that if a stock gains upwards of 20% within 1-3 weeks of a proper breakout, it should be held for eight weeks, as such stocks often become the market's biggest winners.

What is the 20 40 rule in stocks? ›

When a stock goes up by 40%, sell 20% of the position.

What is the 30 trading rule? ›

The wash-sale rule states that, if an investment is sold at a loss and then repurchased within 30 days, the initial loss cannot be claimed for tax purposes. So, just wait for 30 days after the sale date before repurchasing the same or similar investment.

What is the 40 60 rule in stocks? ›

What's the 60/40 portfolio? With a 60/40 portfolio, investors put 60% of their money in stocks and 40% in bonds. This diversification of both growth and income has generally provided a safe, mundane way for investors to grow their money without taking on too much risk.

What is rule of 72 in stock? ›

The Rule of 72 is a simple way to determine how long an investment will take to double given a fixed annual rate of interest. By dividing 72 by the annual rate of return, investors obtain a rough estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to duplicate itself.

What is 531 rule trading? ›

Intro: 5-3-1 trading strategy

The numbers five, three and one stand for: Five currency pairs to learn and trade. Three strategies to become an expert on and use with your trades. One time to trade, the same time every day.

What is rule of 9 in stock market? ›

Gann square of nine is a principle which says each number in the universe is related to other number with some degree relation. Prices of the stock or index or commodity is a number hence the next price which will act as a resistance or support of a trend can be identified by the use of square of nine principles.

What is the 45 rule in stock market? ›

If an index rises or falls by 15% anytime between 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm, it results in trading activity being halted for 45 minutes. If it rises or falls by 15% before 1:00 pm, a 1 hour 45-minute halt in trading activity is enforced.

What is the 100 rule in stocks? ›

According to this principle, individuals should hold a percentage of stocks equal to 100 minus their age. So, for a typical 60-year-old, 40% of the portfolio should be equities. The rest would comprise high-grade bonds, government debt, and other relatively safe assets.

What is the 90 rule in trading? ›

The 90/10 investing strategy for retirement savings involves allocating 90% of one's investment capital in low-cost S&P 500 index funds and the remaining 10% in short-term government bonds. The 90/10 investing rule is a suggested benchmark that investors can easily modify to reflect their tolerance to investment risk.

What is the best strategy for selling stocks? ›

A common-sense strategy is to sell as a stock rises in order to lock in gains over time and to sell into losses in order to avoid them from spiraling out of control. Harvard Business Review.

What is the best way to sell your stock? ›

Investors can cash out stocks by selling them on a stock exchange through a broker. Stocks are relatively liquid assets, meaning they can be converted into cash quickly, especially compared to investments like real estate or jewelry. However, until an investor sells a stock, their money stays tied up in the market.

What are the five rules for successful stock picking? ›

Without spoiling too much of the book, Dorsey's five rules are:
  • Do your homework.
  • Find economic moats.
  • Have a margin of safety.
  • Hold for the long haul.
  • Know when to sell.

What is the rule of thumb for selling stocks? ›

The sell-half rule recommends that you sell half of a stock that doubles in price and you should be quicker to sell aggressive stocks than conservative stocks. It pays to apply our sell-half rule with stocks we rate as “Speculative” or “Start-up.”

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