Stock FAQs

what does it mean going long on a stock

by Mr. Drake Jacobs Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What Does it Mean to Go Long on a Stock? Quite simply, being long on a stock means that you are buying the stock that you then own of a particular company, with the expectation that the price is going to rise. Your long stock position and your funds invested will rise and fall with the price of that stock.

Having a “long” position in a security means that you own the security. Investors maintain “long” security positions in the expectation that the stock will rise in value in the future. The opposite of a “long” position is a “short” position. A "short" position is generally the sale of a stock you do not own.

Full Answer

What is going long on a stock?

  • In options trading, going long means owning one of two types of options: a long call and a long put.
  • A long call option gives you the right to buy stock at a preset price in the future. ...
  • Long positions hedge risk: If the stock doesn't move as hoped, the option expires at little cost to you.

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What is long stock value?

more affordable outcomes does not confuse Wall Street's frequently fickle ticker with long-term value? About a month ago, Humana's stock price dropped more than 18% following the company's significantly reduced Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment growth ...

What is a long stock position?

That's because growth stocks rely more on long-term gains ... making this a value stock you don't want to ignore. This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium ...

What is the definition of Long Term Stock?

Short term investments and long term investments are distinguished by how you use them. A stock will be a short term investment in the hands of a day trader who sells it within a few hours. When held in a 401 (k) for several years, that same stock would be considered a long term investment.

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What does it mean to go long in stock?

“Going Long” is buying the stock such that you now have a “long position” in the stock. You have a “long position” in the stock, if you own stock, such that you make money when the stock goes up.

What does it mean to be long?

Being “Long” something means you own it . Being “Short” something means you have created an obligation that you have sold to someone else.

What is the first thing a company must do to become a corporation?

When a company is incorporated, one of the things it must do to become a corporation is to issue as many shares of stock as it deems necessary to enable it to divide ownership of the company among other owners conveniently.

What is a stock split?

A stock split is an action in which a company divides the face value of existing shares into a smaller face value so as to increase the number of shares proportionately.

What does "after stock split 2:1" mean?

After stock split (2:1) which means shareholders will get two new shares for every share they hold.

What does it mean to buy stock to sell?

Those who buy the shares of stock to sell rather than to own are not investing ; they are gambling. Buying shares for the short term is playing the stock market and relying on a guess as to what’s going to happen next. Traders and the rest of “the herd” who think they’re investing don’t get any of the benefit of ownership and are kidding themselves into thinking they’re investing like real investors do. Fortunately for investors, there will always be one of those uneducated individuals around to buy from or sell to when there is a discrepancy between the price of a share of stock and its value.

Why do companies split their stock?

Usually companies go for stock split when they wish to lower the trading price of the stock to a range comfortable by most investor s.The goal of a stock split is to make stock accessible to as many investors as possible.

What is the meaning of "going long" in investing?

With a long-position investment, the investor purchases an asset and owns it with the expectation that the price is going to rise. This investor normally has no plan to sell the security in the near future.

What does "long" mean in investing?

The most common meaning of long refers to the length of time an investment is held. However, the term long has a different meaning when used in options and futures contracts.

What Is a Long Position?

The term long position describes what an investor has purchased when they buy a security or derivative with the expectation that it will rise in value.

How is a Long Different from a Short?

A short position is the opposite of a long position, in that it profits when the prices of securities go down.

Why are call options long?

When a trader buys or holds a call options contract from an options writer, they are long, due to the power they hold in being able to buy the asset. An investor who is long a call option is one who buys a call with the expectation that the underlying security will increase in value.

Why do people hold long put options?

The holder of a long put option believes the price of an asset will fall. They hold the option with the hope that they will be able to sell the underlying asset at an advantageous price by the expiry.

What does it mean to be long on an option?

A long position is the opposite of a short position. In options, being long can refer either to outright ownership of an asset or being the holder of an option on the asset . Being long on a stock or bond investment is a measurement of time.

Why do people short sell stocks?

Investors who sell stock short typically believe the price of the stock will fall and hope to buy the stock at the lower price and make a profit. Short selling is also used by market makers and others to provide liquidity in response to unanticipated demand, or to hedge the risk of an economic long position in the same security or in ...

What is a broker lending stock?

Brokerage firms typically lend stock to customers who engage in short sales, using the firm’s own inventory, the margin account of another of the firm’s customers, or another lender. As with buying stock on margin, short sellers are subject to the margin rules and other fees and charges may apply (including interest on the stock loan).

What does it mean to be short?

A "short" position is generally the sale of a stock you do not own. Investors who sell short believe the price of the stock will decrease in value. If the price drops, you can buy the stock at the lower price and make a profit. If the price of the stock rises and you buy it back later at the higher price, you will incur a loss.

What is short selling?

Short selling is for the experienced investor. Short Sales. A short sale is the sale of a stock that an investor does not own or a sale which is consummated by the delivery of a stock borrowed by, or for the account of, the investor.

What does it mean to be long in a security?

Having a “long” position in a security means that you own the security. Investors maintain “long” security positions in the expectation that the stock will rise in value in the future. The opposite of a “long” position is a “short” position.

How are short sales settled?

Short sales are normally settled by the delivery of a security borrowed by or on behalf of the investor. The investor later closes out the position by returning the borrowed security to the stock lender, typically by purchasing securities on the open market.

What does "long" mean in stock?

Long means buy or bought. If someone says “I’m long WXYZ stock” it means that person owns (they bought) shares in WXYZ. If someones says “I’m going long WXYZ at $14” it means they intend to buy WXYZ stock at $14. In this case they don’t own it yet, but they plan to.

What does it mean when someone says they are long?

When someone says they are long it usually infers that they believe the stock (or other asset) will rise in value. When you are long (own shares), to exit the position you sell the shares. For example, if you go long 100 shares at $10, you need to sell them at some point to collect your profit.

What does it mean when you short something?

You short or short sell assets you believe will fall in value. When someone says they are going short it usually infers that they believe the price of an asset will fall in value.

What are the two words that describe the long and short term?

Two words related to long and short are “bullish” and “bearish.”. These words also indicate which direction the price of an asset is moving, or which direction a trader thinks it will move. The term bull or bullish comes from the animal, attacking with an upward thrust. Therefore, “bull” means upward trend or price direction.

Why do traders short sell?

Short selling allows traders to make money when prices are falling, and going long allows them to make money in rising markets.

What does it mean when you sell 100 shares?

When you sell the 100 shares you are “flat.”. Flat means you have no position–you are neither long or short. Selling is flattening or reducing a long position, which is a bit different than going short….

What does "goigng short" mean?

Goigng short means to sell without first owning. It is also referred to as short selling or shorting.

What happens when you short a stock?

Oftentimes, the short investor borrows the shares from a brokerage firm in a margin account to make the delivery. Then, with hopes the stock price will fall, the investor buys the shares at a lower price to pay back the dealer who loaned them. If the price doesn't fall and keeps going up, the short seller may be subject to a margin call from their broker.

What does it mean when an investor has long positions?

If an investor has long positions, it means that the investor has bought and owns those shares of stocks. By contrast, if the investor has short positions, it means that the investor owes those stocks to someone, but does not actually own them yet.

How many shares does a short investor owe?

The short investor owes 100 shares at settlement and must fulfill the obligation by purchasing the shares in the market to deliver. Oftentimes, the short investor borrows the shares from a brokerage firm in a margin account to make the delivery.

What is a long call option?

Long call option positions are bullish, as the investor expects the stock price to rise and buys calls with a lower strike price. An investor can hedge his long stock position by creating a long put option position, giving him the right to sell his stock at a guaranteed price.

What is a long position?

When speaking of stocks and options, analysts and market makers often refer to an investor having long positions or short positions. While long and short in financial matters can refer to several things, in this context, rather than a reference to length, long positions and short positions are a reference to what an investor owns ...

Why do investors use long and short positions?

Long and short positions are used by investors to achieve different results, and oftentimes both long and short positions are established simultaneously by an investor to leverage or produce income on a security.

What happens if the price doesn't fall?

If the price doesn't fall and keeps going up, the short seller may be subject to a margin call from his broker. A margin call occurs when an investor's account value falls below the broker's required minimum value.

Why Go Long in Forex?

Some of the reasons that traders go long come from technical as well as fundamental developments.

Why do you go long on one currency and short on the other?

Because every currency trade involves a pair, you will always simultaneously go long on one currency and short on the other when making a trade. When you are long on a currency, it means you are betting the base currency will strengthen against the quote currency.

Can you sell a stock back and short?

Also, when you sell your stock back, you can think of it as going long in the US dollar, and short on the stock because for one reason or another you now believe it is more valuable to have cash in dollars​ than it is to hold the stock.

Is it worth buying a currency?

Therefore, it may be worth buying the currency, or going long.

When Do I Use a Long or Short Trade?

You would go long or use a long trade on a stock that you believe or know will rise in price. A long trade to a day trader is, at most, one trading day. If you find an opportunity to enter a trade, and you know the stock price will increase (and be desirable for another trader after you buy it), you'd go long on that stock.

What happens if you sell stock at $9.90?

The flip side to an increase in price is a decrease. If you sell your shares at $9.90, you receive $9,900 back on your $10,000 trade. You'd lose $100 and have to pay commission fees on top of it.

Why do you buy a short call?

You buy a short call to have the right to sell a stock (make another trader buy it) at a specific price; you buy a short put to have the right to repurchase a stock (make another trader sell it to you) at a specific price. The stop loss prevents you from losing too much on a trade if the price moves against you.

What does it mean to be a day trader?

When a day trader is in a long trade, they have purchased an asset and are waiting to sell when the price goes up. Day traders often use the terms "buy" and "long" interchangeably.

What does "short" mean in trading?

When you're in a short trade, you borrow an asset, sell it, and hope to buy it back when the price goes down. "Sell" and "short" are used interchangeably.

What is a short trade?

In day trading, "long" and "short" trades refer to whether a trade was initiated with a purchase or a sale. In a long trade, you purchase an asset and wait to sell when the price goes up. "Buy" and "long" are used interchangeably. When you're in a short trade, you borrow an asset, sell it, and hope to buy it back when the price goes down.

What does it mean to go long on XYZ?

You might hear a trader say they are "going long" or "go long" to indicate interest in buying a particular asset. If you go long on (buy) 1,000 shares of XYZ stock at $10, the transaction costs you $10,000. If you can sell them at $10.20 per share, you receive $10,200. You get a nice profit of $200 before commissions. This is what you're hoping for by going long.

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What Is A Long position?

Understanding A Long Position

  • Investors can establish long positions in securities such as stocks, mutual funds, or currencies, or even in derivatives such as options and futures. Holding a long position is a bullish view. A long position is the opposite of a short position(also known simply as "short"). The term long position is often used In the context of buying an options c...
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Types of Long Positions

  • In reality, long is an investing term that can have multiple meanings depending on in what context it is used. The most common meaning of long refers to the length of time an investment is held. However, the term long has a different meaning when used in options and futures contracts.
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Example of A Long Position

  • For example, let's say Jim expects Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) to increase in price and purchases 100 shares of it for his portfolio. Jim is therefore said to "be long" 100 shares of MSFT. Now, let's consider a Nov. 17 call option on Microsoft (MSFT) with a $75 strike priceand $1.30 premium. If Jim is still bullish on the stock, he may decide to purchase or go long one MSFT call …
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