What are fractional shares?

*Until recently, investing in fractional stocks was only possible in the United States of America. Now, a few providers also offer fractional stocks in Europe via different setups like derivatives. 

What is a fractional share?

Buying a whole share of a company can be very expensive, which is why fractional shares offer an attractive option to new investors just beginning to invest, simply because they are more affordable.

Imagine a whole share like a cake. A fractional share would be like taking just a slice of that cake. So investing in fractional shares means you are only buying a fraction (aka a smaller portion) instead of buying a whole thing. For average investors, this is more cost-effective than saving up a lot of money to spend on one stock, meaning you can invest with a small budget and that you don’t need high amounts to buy stock of a company. 

What are the advantages of fractional shares?

Let’s say you want to buy a stock or share of a company in the hope of gaining income from their profits in the future. So, for example, you want to buy one Amazon stock, which is valued at around $3,000 (USD) right now. Unfortunately, the average person does not have an extra $3,000 lying around that they’re willing or able to possibly lose. Wouldn't it be nice if you could just buy a portion of a share instead, something proportional to how much you can afford? That’s exactly what fractional shares are for. Some brokers allow you to invest in a share from as little as one dollar.

Fractional shares add flexibility

The great thing about fractional shares is that you are able to purchase stocks that you normally could not afford. This adds a lot of flexibility to choose where you want to invest, no matter the company. It is true some brokers do not offer fractional shares which is why it’s important to do your research when searching for an investment platform.

Fractional shares fit into your budget

Investing in fractional shares is easy to pencil into your budget which means you don’t have to worry about putting aside a lot of cash. You are able to put your disposable income into the market almost immediately. For example, you could invest in a share of a stock with the amount of money you would usually spend on a takeaway coffee.

Can fractional shares be profitable?

Fractional shares allow you to buy portions of multiple shares in different companies which is great for diversifying your portfolio. But the real question is: how can you make money from fractional shares? It’s true that you would undoubtedly make less than if you bought one stock instead of just a smaller portion. The trick to making money from fractional shares is to be consistent with your investments. €10 a year isn’t going to generate you much profit. However, if you invest small, regular weekly payments, you can go on a long-term cost-averaging plan that is far more likely to bring you a profit.