Learn more about stocks
What is a stock?
A stock is a financial security that represents partial equity ownership in a company.
Who are stocks for?
Anyone who wants to own shares in a publicly traded company and accepts the risks of trading in the stock market.
Why trade stocks?
As companies grow and build wealth, so can you. Buying and selling stocks may help you grow your wealth to meet your financial goals.
Online investment benefits with J.P. Morgan
- Securely access all of your J.P. Morgan investment and Chase banking accounts anywhere, anytime on our Chase Mobile® app or at chase.com
- Access thousands of stocks and other investment opportunities from a variety of public companies.
- Save money with unlimited $0 commission online trades so you keep more of your investment.
- Tap into J.P. Morgan Research to identify stock market opportunities and help invest with confidence.
JPMorgan Chase and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting professionals before engaging in any transaction.
Why J.P. Morgan?
Whether you want to trade on your own or through a robo-advisor, we offer online investment options that fit your financial goals and lifestyle. You’ll get a trading experience that puts you in control of your future and helps you build your wealth over time through diverse investment options like stocks, mutual funds, ETFs and more. You’ll also gain access to screeners and watchlists to track performance and choose investments that fit your needs, all through the convenience of our Chase Mobile® app.
Here’s how we can work together
WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH AN ADVISORJ.P. Morgan
Private Client Advisor
Work 1:1 with a dedicated advisor in your local community to create a personalized financial strategy and build a custom investment portfolio.
WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH AN ADVISORJ.P. Morgan
Private Client Advisor
Work 1:1 with a dedicated advisor in your local community to create a personalized financial strategy and build a custom investment portfolio.
INVEST ON YOUR OWNJ.P. Morgan
Self-Directed Investing
Build your investment portfolio on your own with unlimited $0 commission online trades.
INVEST ON YOUR OWNJ.P. Morgan
Self-Directed Investing
Build your investment portfolio on your own with unlimited $0 commission online trades.
Discover more ways to get ready for retirement
Roll over your 401(k)
Consider moving your employer-sponsored retirement plan account into a J.P. Morgan IRA.
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Wherever you are in your retirement planning journey, there’s always a best next step. Explore our retirement guides and get a sense of what you could be focusing on.
IRA Calculator
Choose the right IRA option for your retirement and compare traditional and Roth options to see how they compare to a general investment account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Investing in stocks is investing in publicly traded companies and their potential. As the share price of your stock goes up, the value of the company goes up and you can reap benefits from that growth. Similarly, if the value of the company goes down, you can lose money on your investment.
When a company moves from private to public ownership, it makes shares available to interested investors through the stock market. When you choose to invest, you are buying that company’s shares on a stock exchange. As the share price of your stock goes up, the value of the company goes up and you can reap benefits from that growth. You can also sell stock at a profit as the shares appreciate. However, if the company declines in value, you lose money on your investment.
There are many different types of stocks to invest in, but most fall into two categories: Common stocks and preferred stocks. Both provide investors with a share of the company, but only common stocks allow investors to vote. Common stocks are the most popular type of stock in the market and represent a claim on profits, also called dividends, which fluctuates with the company’s success. Preferred stocks pay investors a fixed dividend, no matter how the stock itself fluctuates.
There are a few ways to invest in stocks with J.P. Morgan. Once you open a brokerage account, you can trade stocks commission-free with Self-Directed Investing, work with a J.P. Morgan Advisor to plan a financial strategy for your goals, or automate your investments using our robo-advisors.
Anyone 18 years or older can invest in stocks with J.P. Morgan. After opening a brokerage account, you can invest as little or as much as you’d like using our investment tools.
Sharpen your knowledge
What is a stock split?
In a stock split, a company breaks up shares into lower-value shares, reducing the trading price and increasing liquidity. The market cap does not change.
2 minute read
Stocks: Investing in something bigger
Stocks allow you to benefit from the potential success of companies and can offer faster potential growth than many other types of investments.
8 minute read
The impact of holding a concentrated stock position
If you have a large portion of your investment portfolio in a single stock, you are in a concentrated stock position, which can create unwanted risk to your portfolio.
3 minute read