when you buy shares do you have to buy hundreds or can you buy just one or two?

Answer 1

You will find that some people will buy just one as it gives them the right to attend a company's Annual General Meeting.

Once there they can ask questions of the Board. - It's not always about making money!

Answer 2

It seems like there are both yes and no answers. The reason is that it depends. On the major US markets you can buy a single share. In certain foreign markets you need to buy in certain lot sizes.

For example, in Japan some companies have minimum trading units of 100 or so. This is changing as the economy improves and more individual investors appear.

Answer 3

You can buy small quantities like 1 or 2 but the commission you need to pay will make it nearly impossible to make money.

Lets say you buy 1 shares of a $50 stock. You pay $8 commission. You will pay another $8 commission to sell it. You will need the stock to go from $50 to $66 just to break even.

Answer 4

Yes, you can buy 1 or 2. Shares are sold in lots of 100 - called a round lot. If you buy in multiples other than 100, it's called an odd lot. You pay a higher commission, but you can buy odd lot.

Answer 5

Hello jcjw,
Here's some info about buying Mutual Funds and stocks.
A Mutual Fund investment is purchased in multiple shares based upon your investment amount, and the price of the share. Each fund company will have its own minimum investment requirement to get started, and a minimum add-on purchase requirement. Minimum initial investment requirements commonly range from $100 to $1000. Add-on investments commonly range from $25 to $100. Mutual Funds are a good way for new investors to get started. Instead of just owning one company, you share in ownership of many companies, which can help lower your investment risk. They are also professionally managed. Search "Morningstar.com" on the web to learn more about mutual funds.

If you want to own a particular stock, some businesses allow you to purchase shares of their stock directly from them. This permits you to save money on commission charges to buy and sell. These programs are called DRIPS (dividend reinvestment programs). Most companies have small investment requirements. Search the web for a list of companies that offer DRIPS.
All the best to you!

Answer 6

You can buy however many you want. However, depending on the price, you may pay a lot in broker fees per amount of shares you buy.

If you use a discount online brokerage house that charges $7.95 for a transaction and buy a single share that costs $5.00 you pay more in broker fees than you buy in shares. However, if you buy one share of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) you will spend tens of thousands on a single share so one share may be all you can afford.

Answer 7

For your benefit and perhaps for future reference. The term used to refer to the quantity of shares purchased and/ or sold is the multiple; i;e in multiples of one hundred or figuretively speaking 'May I purchase 100 shares of Buckingham Palace Queenie'.

So that shan't work over on this island, but if you go to othr countries the broker may wish you to purchase in multiples. Fortunately, in blighty any which way the wind blows my friend.

Answer 8

pdawg answered the question correctly
However Peggy V has given you the best investment advice
Your portfolio should start with Mutual Funds and from their you can go to stocks if you want but the best over all investment for the small investor to start with is Mutual funds by far as they are professionally managed and diversifies your money thus increasing your chance for a better return.

Answer 9

You have to buy shares in lots. Each lot may either be 100, 200,500 or 1000 share units according to your stock exchange regulations.

Answer 10

You can just buy one or two, in fact with a ShareBuilder account you can even have fractions of shares