can you buy stocks on fidelity — full guide

Can you buy stocks on Fidelity?

Yes. If you ask "can you buy stocks on Fidelity", the short answer is yes — Fidelity is a full-service U.S. broker-dealer and custodian that lets retail and retirement account holders buy and sell U.S. equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and many related securities. This guide explains what is available, how to open and fund accounts, how to place and manage orders, the main fees and settlement rules, and other operational and safety details you should know.

As of 2025-12-01, according to Fidelity Learning Center and public product pages, Fidelity continues to offer commission-free online trading for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, fractional-share investing options, retirement account support, and multiple trading platforms for different user needs.

Overview of Fidelity Brokerage Services

Fidelity Brokerage is a retail broker-dealer and investment services firm that offers custody, trading, and account services for individual and institutional clients. Typical account types available include:

• Taxable brokerage (individual or joint accounts)
• Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs
• Custodial accounts for minors (UGMA/UTMA)
• Trust accounts and managed account solutions

Fidelity acts as the executing broker and custodian for assets held in customer accounts. It provides order execution, market routing, recordkeeping, tax reporting, and customer service. For most retail investors, Fidelity functions as the primary gateway to U.S. equity markets and related products.

Securities Available to Buy and Sell

You can buy a broad range of securities through Fidelity. Common categories include:

• U.S. exchange-listed common and preferred stocks (NYSE, NASDAQ-listed)
• Over-the-counter (OTC) equities where available
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Mutual funds (both Fidelity and third-party funds)
• Options contracts on eligible equities and ETFs (requires approval)
• Individual bonds and fixed-income instruments
• American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) for many foreign companies
• Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and closed-end funds
• Certain foreign securities where Fidelity supports access

Some investments may be restricted or unavailable due to regulatory reasons, issuer restrictions, or account type limits. Fidelity may place holds on restricted securities, require additional documentation, or route a trade to an alternate market center. If you have specific restricted assets in an incoming transfer, Fidelity’s customer service can explain eligibility and handling.

How to Open and Fund a Fidelity Account

Opening a Fidelity account generally follows these steps:

1. Choose the account type (taxable brokerage, IRA, custodial, trust).
2. Provide personal information: legal name, Social Security Number (or Tax ID), date of birth, home address, employment information, and identification.
3. Answer suitability and risk questions (for margin and options approval you will need additional information).
4. Link a funding source: bank account routing and account number for ACH transfers, or set up wire instructions.
5. Review and sign agreements and disclosures.

Funding methods include:

• ACH electronic transfer (usually free; typically available within 1–3 business days depending on verification).
• Bank wire transfers (same-day or next-business-day credit depending on timing).
• Check deposits (mailed or mobile deposit; clearing time varies).
• Account transfers (ACAT) from another broker: transfers may take several days to a few weeks depending on asset types and the delivering firm.

IRAs and custodial accounts have specific documentation and beneficiary rules. IRA rollovers and trustee-to-trustee transfers may require additional forms. Fidelity verifies bank links and identity; expect short verification steps before large transfers are fully available for trading.

How to Buy Stocks on Fidelity (Step-by-step)

Below is a practical step-by-step workflow for placing a stock trade on Fidelity’s web platform or mobile app. If your question is “can you buy stocks on Fidelity?” this section shows exactly how.

1. Log in to your Fidelity account on the website or open the Fidelity mobile app.
2. Select the account you want to use (taxable, IRA, custodial).
3. Use the search box to look up the stock symbol or company name.
4. Open the trade ticket or "Trade" screen for that symbol.
5. Choose the action: Buy (or Sell if exiting a position).
6. Enter the quantity: number of shares, or dollar amount for fractional-share orders where supported.
7. Select the order type (market, limit, stop, stop-limit) and time-in-force (day, GTC).
8. If applicable, set routing preferences or optional order instructions (e.g., All or None when supported).
9. Review estimated cost, fees, and any margin usage.
10. Submit the order and wait for execution confirmation.

You can place trades from the desktop site, the mobile app, or specialized Fidelity trading platforms. Recurring investments, scheduled buys, and fractional-share purchases are supported for eligible securities.

Placing a Trade — Practical tips

• Verify the ticker symbol carefully; similar tickers can represent very different companies.
• For fractional-share orders, confirm whether the stock is eligible and whether the order will execute on an exchange or internally.
• Check available cash or margin buying power before submitting a trade to avoid rejected orders.
• Review the preview or order confirmation screen for estimated costs and order details.
• Keep an eye on order status: pending, executed, canceled, or rejected. Fidelity provides execution reports and confirmations in your trade history.

Order Types and Time-in-Force

Common order types you will encounter on Fidelity include:

• Market order: executes at the best available price; fastest execution but no price guarantee.
• Limit order: specifies a maximum purchase price (or minimum sale price); execution only at the limit price or better.
• Stop order (stop-market): becomes a market order after the stop price is reached.
• Stop-limit order: becomes a limit order when the stop price triggers.
• Conditional orders and advanced order types (where available) allow multi-leg conditions.

Time-in-force options typically include:

• Day order: expires at the close of the trading day if not executed.
• Good-Til-Canceled (GTC): remains active for a longer period (Fidelity’s platform defines specific GTC durations and may cancel after a set number of days).

Choosing the right order type affects price control, execution risk, and potential partial fills. Limit orders can help control costs but may not execute if the market price does not reach your limit.

Trading Hours and Extended Sessions

U.S. equities trade during regular market hours and in extended sessions:

• Regular market hours: typically 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time for U.S. exchanges.
• Pre-market trading: available on many platforms, often starting as early as 7:00 a.m. ET.
• After-hours trading: commonly continues from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on many platforms.

Fidelity offers pre-market and after-hours trading for eligible securities. Extended-hours sessions tend to have lower liquidity and wider spreads, which can increase price volatility and the risk that orders will execute at unexpected prices. Some order types or routing options may not be available in extended sessions.

Settlement and Tax Considerations

Settlement and taxes are important operational details:

• Settlement: Most equity trades settle on the trade date plus one business day (T+1). Settlement timing affects when you can withdraw proceeds or reuse settled funds without risking a free-riding violation.
• Cash vs. settled cash: Buying power differs depending on whether you use unsettled proceeds, cash balance, or margin.
• Dividends: Dividend payments are subject to record and ex-dividend dates; dividends received in a taxable brokerage account are reportable as income.
• Tax reporting: Fidelity provides year-end tax documents (Form 1099-B for sales, 1099-DIV for dividends, 1099-INT for interest, and IRA statements).
• Tax lot methods: You can choose different tax lot accounting methods (FIFO, Specific Lot Identification, etc.) to track gains and losses.

For tax questions and specific reporting rules, consult a tax professional. Fidelity provides tax documents and reporting tools but does not provide tax advice.

Fees, Commissions and Costs

Fidelity’s pricing for U.S. equities and ETFs is competitive, but other charges can apply:

• U.S. stock and ETF online trades: typically commission-free for standard online orders (as of the December 2025 product pages).
• Options: often a per-contract fee plus any base transaction charge; fees vary by account type and platform.
• Broker-assisted trades: may carry a surcharge or commission.
• Mutual fund transaction fees: some non-Fidelity funds may have transaction fees or short-term redemption fees.
• Margin interest: if you borrow on margin, interest accrues at published rates that vary with the margin balance and rate tiers.
• Account closing, transfer-out, or wire fees: may apply in some scenarios.

Fee schedules and charges can change. For current, specific fee amounts and the full list of possible charges, consult Fidelity’s published fee schedules and disclosures or contact Fidelity customer service.

Fractional Shares and Minimums

Fidelity offers fractional-share investing programs (sometimes branded or described as "Stocks by the Slice" or similar product names). Key points:

• Fractional shares allow you to buy partial shares of eligible U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs using a dollar amount rather than a whole share quantity.
• There is often a minimum dollar amount per fractional purchase (check the platform for the current minimum).
• Fractional-share orders may be executed during specific periods or through internal programs rather than routed directly to an exchange.
• Not all securities are eligible for fractional trading.

If your question is “can you buy stocks on Fidelity” with small amounts, the answer is yes for many U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs through fractional programs, but check eligibility and minimums before initiating an order.

Margin, Short Sales, and Options Trading

Advanced services require approval and additional understanding:

• Margin accounts: allow borrowing against securities to increase buying power. Approval requires a margin agreement and the account to meet eligibility criteria. Margin amplifies gains and losses and carries margin interest.
• Short sales: permitted in margin accounts when securities are borrowable; shorting carries special risks, including unlimited downside and margin maintenance requirements.
• Options trading: your account must be approved for options and assigned an approval level that limits permitted strategies. Options have their own fees and complexity; strategies range from basic covered calls to complex multi-leg positions.

These services are not suitable for every investor. Fidelity requires suitability information to determine whether to grant approvals and provides educational material on risks and margin requirements.

Research, Tools, and Educational Resources

Fidelity provides research and decision-support tools to help investors. Examples include:

• Stock and ETF screeners with filters for fundamentals, valuation, and analyst ratings.
• Third-party research reports and analyst commentary from recognized providers.
• Equity Summary Scores and risk metrics to help compare securities.
• Charting tools with indicators, drawing tools, and historical price data.
• Educational articles, videos, and webinars in the Fidelity Learning Center covering trading basics, retirement planning, tax topics, and platform how-tos.

Use these resources to inform your decisions. They are reference tools and not personalized investment advice.

Advanced Trading Features and Platforms

For active traders and professional users, Fidelity provides advanced features:

• Professional-level trading platforms and streaming quotes (available to accounts that meet eligibility criteria).
• Conditional orders, basket orders, and algorithmlike routing where supported.
• Direct market access or directed order routing options for eligible customers.
• API access or institutional-level services for high-volume traders or institutional clients (subject to agreement).

Activation of advanced features often requires additional agreements, minimum balances, or approval.

Restrictions, Approvals and Eligibility

You may encounter restrictions based on account status, regulatory rules, or trading behavior:

• Account-level restrictions: margin and options trading require approvals and suitable account types.
• Pattern-day trader rules: U.S. rules apply to margin accounts with frequent day trades and may require a minimum account equity threshold.
• State or residency limits: non-U.S. residents and certain states may face limits on account types or services.
• Security-specific restrictions: securities under regulatory review, subject to lockups, or placed in a restricted category may not be tradeable until restrictions are lifted.

If you anticipate restricted activity (for example, frequent day trading or complex options strategies), confirm eligibility and requirements with Fidelity before initiating trades.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

Q: Can non-U.S. residents open an account?
A: Residency and account eligibility vary by country and local law. Some non-U.S. residents can open accounts, but limitations often apply. Contact Fidelity for specific guidance.

Q: How long until funded cash is available?
A: ACH transfers typically take 1–3 business days to clear. Wire transfers may credit same-day depending on timing. Check your account ledger for exact availability and any deposit holds.

Q: Can I buy fractional shares of any stock?
A: No — only eligible U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs are typically available for fractional purchase. Verify eligibility on the trade ticket.

Q: How do I know my order executed?
A: Execution confirmations appear in the trade confirmations and account activity. You can view execution price, size filled, and time of execution in your trade history.

If you encounter technical issues, error messages, or trade rejections, Fidelity customer support and help resources provide step-by-step troubleshooting.

Regulatory and Safety Considerations

Fidelity accounts are subject to regulatory protections and disclosures:

• SIPC protection: customer securities and cash in a SIPC-covered brokerage account are protected up to statutory limits if the firm fails. SIPC does not protect against market losses.
• Custody and recordkeeping: Fidelity maintains custody of securities in customer accounts and provides statements, trade confirmations, and year-end tax forms.
• Risk disclosures: trading involves market risk. Margin and options involve amplified risk and additional disclosures.

Always review account agreements, fee schedules, and risk disclosures when opening and using brokerage services.

See also / External links

• Fidelity Learning Center resources on trading stocks and ETFs
• Fidelity product pages describing account types and brokerage services
• Fidelity fee and commission schedules
• Fidelity resources on fractional shares, options, and margin

(Consult Fidelity’s official site or customer service for direct links and the most current product details.)

References

• As of 2025-12-01, according to Fidelity Learning Center and platform product pages: Fidelity offers commission-free online trading for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, fractional-share programs, and a suite of trading and research tools.
• Product descriptions and fee schedules are based on publicly available Fidelity disclosures and investor help pages as of the date above.

Further reading: contact Fidelity customer support, review account agreements, and consult tax or legal professionals for specific tax or regulatory questions.

Next steps and actions

If you want to try trading U.S. equities: open the appropriate Fidelity account, verify bank funding, confirm stock eligibility for fractional orders if you plan to use small amounts, and familiarize yourself with order types and settlement rules. For Web3 or crypto-related custody, consider Bitget Wallet for decentralized asset storage and explore Bitget exchange products if you are evaluating multi-asset strategies. For account-related questions or to confirm the latest fees and product availability, contact Fidelity directly.

Thank you for reading. If you still wonder "can you buy stocks on Fidelity", the operational answer is yes — and this guide should help you get started safely and with an understanding of the main trade mechanics.