12 Strategies on How to Buy DSS Stock

The bid & ask refers to the price that an investor is willing to buy or sell a stock. The bid is the highest amount that a buyer is currently willing to pay, whereas the ask is the lowest amount that a seller is currently willing to sell. The numbers next to the bid/ask are the “size”. The bid size displays the total amount of desired shares to buy at that price, and the ask size is the number of shares offered for sale at that price. The data displayed in the quote bar updates every 3 seconds; allowing you to monitor prices in real-time.

The bid-ask spread can indicate a stock’s liquidity, which is how easy it is to buy and sell in the marketplace. Often, a smaller spread suggests higher liquidity, meaning more buyers and sellers in the market are willing to negotiate. In contrast, a larger spread suggests lower liquidity, as there are fewer investors willing to negotiate. You can use the bid-ask spread to determine whether to place a  market order or limit order when trading, helping you to optimize your price and have a successful order execution.

DSS Stock

2. Consider how the stock market works. The stock market works like any other marketplace. In this case, the products being bought and sold are pieces of ownership in companies. We call these shares of stock. Stocks are traded on exchanges. You can think of an exchange as the marketplace. In the U.S., the major exchanges include the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation system (the NASDAQ).

• Stock prices move up and down depending on supply and demand. When there is a large demand for a stock, its price will rise. Since there are more interested buyers than sellers, the stock price will increase. When there are more sellers than buyers, the price will fall.
• A stock’s price is a reflection of the investment community’s opinion of the stock. The price is not necessarily the actual value of the company. This means that short-term prices are often affected by people’s emotions, rather than by facts. Prices can move based on information, misinformation, and rumor.
• Your goal as a stock investor is to purchase shares of a company that will increase in value over time. If the issuing company grows their sales and increases profits, investors may buy more of the stock. If the stock price goes up, you can sell your shares for a gain.
• For example, imagine that you buy 100 shares of stock priced at $15 each. That’s a $1,500 investment. After two years, the stock price increases to $20. Now, your investment is worth $2,000. If you sell your shares, you’ll recognize a $500 gain before any fees or commissions ($2,000 – $1,500).
  

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DSS Stock

3. Go over the terminology related to stock trading. These terms help you decide exactly what type of buy or sell order you want to place with your broker. The terms allow you place certain conditions on your order to buy or sell stock.

• The ask price, also known as the offer, is the lowest available price when trying to buy shares of a stock. Assume you want to buy IBM common stock. If the current ask price is $50 per share, you would pay the $50 price for the stock.
• The bid price (or simply bid) is the highest available price you can find when trying to sell shares of a stock. If you own IBM common stock and want to sell it now, you would receive the bid price per share. If the bid price is $49.75, you would receive that price per share.
• A market order is a request to buy or sell a security immediately at the best price available. If you place a market order, you will pay the ask price as a buyer. If you are selling, the market price you receive will be the current bid price. Keep in mind that your order could be executed at a price higher or lower than what you’re hoping for. The immediate execution of a market order is guaranteed but the price is not.
• In addition to a market order, you can place orders that put conditions on your buy or sell price. A limit order, for example, is a request to buy or sell a security at a specific price or better. On the other hand, a stop order is an order that becomes a market order once a certain price is reached. Consult with a broker who is licensed to trade securities. Ask the broker if these other types of orders are right for you.
  

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4. Look into buying a mutual fund. A mutual fund is a pool of money provided by many investors. The pool can be used to buy a variety of investments. You can select a mutual fund that invests in the stocks of many different companies. When you invest through a mutual fund, you get a stake in every stock the fund invests in. This can be a lower-risk alternative to buying stocks individually.

• Investing in mutual funds can lower your investment risk because of diversification. If you invest in one stock, your risk is concentrated in one company. A mutual fund, on the other hand, may hold dozens (even hundreds) of stocks. If the value of one stock declines, it will have little effect on the overall value of your investment.
• If you’re just starting out as an investor, this can be a good way to invest in stocks. Choose a mutual fund if you feel uncertain about investing in stocks individually, or if you don’t have sufficient time to research and manage a portfolio.
• Be aware of mutual fund fees. Keep in mind that you will pay fees for professional money management in a mutual fund. For example, you may pay a sales charge when you buy or sell your fund. Fund investors will also pay an annual fee for the money management and operation of the fund. These annual fees are based on a percentage of the assets under management.
• Say, for example, that you have $10,000 invested in a stock mutual fund. If the annual fee is 1/2 of 1% of the assets, you annual fee will be $50.

5. Learn about investment research. If you decide to purchase individual stocks instead of a mutual fund, it is important to do some research. There is a huge amount of available data on the Internet. Finding useful data can be difficult. There are some useful tools you can use to perform analysis and select a stock.

• Information about stocks is typically found on a company’s website or in their annual report. These resources can provide valuable information about a company’s business model and financial results. In addition, companies frequently prepare investor presentations. These presentations are often provided in an easy-to-understand format. Review these documents before making an investment decision.
• Websites like Morningstar.com are also useful. New investors may find quarterly or annual reports overwhelming. By researching a stock on Morningstar, you can access essential information on a company, such as the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. Morningstar also provides important financial ratios, which help in analyzing the company. This website is easy to navigate and review.
• Perform a Google search for news about the company. Read the recent news articles that explain how the company is performing. A news source should be an independent third party, so the information should not be biased.
  

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6. Search for companies of interest. The first step is to find a company to research. To do this, read investing publications and websites, like the Wall Street Journal or Investor’s Business Daily. Similarly, websites like Stockchase.com can provide ideas for stocks that analysts rank highly.

• Start by investing in blue chip stocks. Blue chip stocks are large, well-established companies with a track record of generating profits. These firms are typically recognizable corporate names. They make products and services that consumers know and purchase. These stocks are more likely to grow steadily in price over the long-term.
• While these companies do present some risk to the investor, they are often less volatile than other companies. Blue chips tend to have a large market share in the markets they operate. These firms are well funded, and may enjoy some competitive advantage.
• Blue chip stocks include Walmart, Google, Apple, and McDonald’s, among many others. Think about companies that you turn to for products and services.

DSS Stock

9. Investigate the possibility of buying stock directly from the issuer. Some companies offer direct stock purchase plans (DSPPs) that allow you to purchase stock without using a broker. If you are planning to buy a small amount of a certain stock, this may be your best option. This approach saves you the time and cost of going through a broker.

• Search online or call the company whose stock you wish to buy. Ask them if they offer a stock purchase plan. If they do, the firm will forward you a copy of their plan’s prospectus, application forms, and other relevant information. A prospectus is a regulatory document that discloses all of the important information about a stock purchase.
• Many plans allow you to invest as little as $50 per month. Verify any fees you need to pay. A few companies offer no-fee investment plans.
• DSPPs also allow you to reinvest all your dividends automatically if you desire. Dividends are paid to you based on the profits of the company. The company’s board of directors must declare a dividend in order for a payment to take place.
  

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10. Choose a broker. If you can’t buy the stock you want directly from the issuing company, you’ll need to find a broker. Brokerage houses vary in terms of the services they provide. This means you’ll need to compare your options and choose the brokerage that suits you best. Generally speaking, there are two types of brokers: full-service and discount.

• Full-service brokers are more expensive. These firms target their services toward investors interested in receiving recommendations and guidance. The higher fee may be worthwhile, however, because full-service brokers can provide valuable assistance. If you’re not confident in your ability to pick stocks, or if you don’t have time, consider working with a full-service broker.
• If you plan to make your own investment decisions, choose a discount broker. There is no point in paying a higher fee for services you aren’t going to use. Still, you must examine each broker’s platform closely to make sure their offerings align with your investment objectives.
• Search the Internet for online discount brokers. Analyze the fees, particularly any additional charges that may not be mentioned when you first contact a prospective broker. Ask for a written disclosure of all fees charged.
  

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DSS Stock

11. Open a brokerage account and deposit funds. Contact a broker about opening an account. Your broker will have you fill out a new account form. This form documents your personal information, along with your investment experience and your risk tolerance.

• Your broker must report your stock trades to the IRS. Specifically, sales proceeds from a stock sale, along with dividend income, are reported to the IRS. You will need to fill out the required forms and send them back to the broker.
• Determine how to deposit funds into your brokerage account. Send your broker an initial deposit of money that will be used to make your first stock purchase.
• Enter an order. Notify your broker of the company’s stock you want to buy and the number of shares. When your trade is completed, you will receive a confirmation. The confirmation is your record of the purchase. Keep all of your confirmations on file.
  

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