Fractional sharesA smart way to start investing

Frequently asked questions

• How do I sign up for fractional share and dollar-based trading?

  Fractional share and dollar-based trading is available through Fidelity Mobile^® using the basic trade ticket. Placing your first buy or sell order in fractional shares or dollars enables your account for fractional and dollar-based trading.

  Terms and conditions related to fractional and dollar-based trading have been updated in the Fidelity^® Account Customer Agreement.

• What is a fractional share?

  A fractional share is a piece of one whole share of a stock or Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). These allow you to buy a small slice of a company's stock or an ETF rather than buying a whole share. This can make it easier to start investing since the stock for some companies can trade for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per share.

• What is dollar-based investing?

  Dollar-based investing allows you to buy fractional shares of your favorite companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on how much you want to invest.

• What types of securities can I trade in fractions or dollars?
  When trading in fractions or dollars, you can trade National Market System (NMS) exchange-listed stocks. This includes stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the NYSE or Nasdaq. If a specific security is not eligible for fractional trading, you will receive an error message.
• Why dollar-based investing?
  With dollar-based investing you have access to fractional shares to help you develop your diversified investment portfolio. There are zero minimums and zero account fees to open a brokerage account, and zero commissions for online US stocks and ETF trades.
• Will I see anything different when I place my first fractional or dollar-based trade with Fidelity?

  When you place your first trade, you will be asked to review the revised Fidelity^® Account Customer Agreement (the "Agreement"). Proceeding with the trade acknowledges your acceptance of the terms and conditions in the Agreement.

• What types of orders can I place in fractions or dollars?
  When trading in fractions or dollars you can place market or limit orders. These orders are good for the day of the trade only.
• When can I place fractional share and dollar-based trades?

  Fractional and dollar-based orders can be placed during market hours (approximately 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET) on normal trading days. Fractional share orders can be placed any time before market open, during the market, or after the market closes. Both dollar-based and fractional share orders are only eligible for execution during normal market hours. For market hours on holidays, check the NYSE calendar.

• What are the minimum number of shares and dollars that I can trade?
  • Fractional share quantities can be entered out to 3 decimal places (.001) as long as the value of the order is at least $1.00. Executions will be rounded down to the nearest .001 shares.
  • Dollar-based trades can be entered out to 2 decimal places (e.g., $250.00). Your order will be converted into shares out to 3 decimal places (.001) and are rounded down to the nearest decimal.
• If I enter a dollar-based buy or sell order, is there anything that could impact the value of that trade?

  The value of a trade may be impacted when entering a dollar-based buy or sell order.

  • Since dollar-based orders are converted to shares and are rounded down to the nearest .001 shares, it is possible that the value of the number of shares you receive might be higher or lower than the dollar amount you requested.
  • All sell orders are subject to an additional assessment that ranges from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal, which could reduce the proceeds of the order.
  • Sell orders placed in certain account types or account conditions may be subject to taxes, which could reduce the proceeds of the order.
  • Review the Fidelity® Account Customer Agreement for further details.
• If I participate in Fidelity’s Dividend Reinvestment Program, what changes will I see?

  Currently, if participating in Fidelity’s Dividend Reinvestment Program, when you place a sell order for a security in your account that has fractional shares, you enter the whole share quantity only, and your fractional shares are automatically liquidated on settlement date. Your fractional shares receive the same execution price as your whole shares.

  After you place your first order in fractions or dollars, any sell order will need to include the whole and fractional share amounts that you want to trade, as fractional shares will no longer automatically liquidate. You will continue to have your dividends reinvested.

• Can I transfer fractional shares or receive a stock certificate for them?

  Fractional shares cannot be transferred, and stock certificates are not available for them. Fractional shares need to be sold prior to any transfer.

• How are fractional and dollar-based orders processed by Fidelity?
  • When processing fractional and dollar-based orders, Fidelity Brokerage Services (FBS) will act as agent and National Financial Services (NFS) will act in a mixed capacity (as principal for the fractional share components and as agent for the whole share components) when executing an order.
  • All orders with a fractional share component will be marked “Not Held,” which gives Fidelity time and price discretion to execute the order without being held to the security's current quote.
  • It is possible that fractional shares for certain securities may not be liquid and NFS will not be able to guarantee a market for the security.
  • In the event of a trading halt of a security, fractional trading of that security will also be halted.
  • Review the Fidelity® Account Customer Agreement for further details.
• What are the risks and limitations of fractional share and dollar-based trading?

  Engaging in fractional share or dollar-based trading poses some unique risks and limitations including:

  • Your ability to place trades is limited to certain order types, and is subject to system availability.
  • The actual amount of an executed order to buy or sell a dollar value of a security may be higher or lower than the amount requested.
  • After you’ve placed your first fractional share or dollar-based trade, any fractional shares in your account acquired prior to that point in time will no longer be automatically liquidated when you sell.
  • You will not be able to participate in proxy voting or in most voluntary corporate actions for the fractional share portion of a position.
  • You may not transfer or receive certificates for fractional share positions outside of Fidelity. Fractional share positions will need to be liquidated prior to transferring out.
  • Review the Fidelity® Account Customer Agreement for further details.
• How are fractional share-only positions impacted by corporate actions like dividends and stock splits?

  Fractional share-only positions are impacted by corporate actions in a variety of ways.

  • Dividends for fractional share-only positions will be passed on to you in proportion to your ownership interest. However, dividends are only supported out to $0.01, so different treatment may apply to any amount smaller than that, or non-divisible amounts (based on the .001 share limitation).
  • For customers participating in Fidelity’s Dividend Reinvestment Program, fractional dividends will reinvest in the same manner as full shares.
  • Customers holding fractional share-only positions will participate in mandatory corporate actions (e.g., splits, reverse splits, etc.). Different treatment may apply to any fractional share amounts that cannot be split.
  • You will not be able to participate in proxy voting or participate in most voluntary corporate actions for the fractional share portion of a position.
  • Please see the Fidelity^® Account Customer Agreement for more information.