Etrade Fee For Buying and Selling Stock
Etrade charges $6.95 fee for selling and buying any stock or ETF. Unlike some other online brokers, there is no surcharge
to trade penny stocks or large amount of shares. However, the broker has a surcharge of $0.005 per share on extended hours
trades (ECN fee) as well as trades executed through E*TRADE Pro trading platform at an ECN during both regular market and extended hours
sessions.
Etrade clients making 30 or more trades per quarter get a $2 per trade discount on stock and ETF trades.
Etrade Stock Trading Fees Comparison
All Etrade Trading Fees
| Product | Price |
|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $6.95 or $4.95* |
| Options | $6.95 + $0.65 per contract or $4.95 + $0.50* |
| Mutual funds | $19.95 |
| Bonds | $1 per bond with $10 minimum, $250 maximum |
| Futures | $1.50 per contract, per side + fees |
| Certificates of Deposit (CDs) | $24.95 |
* - $4.95 per equity trade and 50 cents per options contract for users who make 30 or more trades in the prior calendar quarter.
OptionsHouse by Etrade Minimum IRA Deposit and Balance
The minimum initial OptionsHouse by Etrade deposit is $0 for both non-retirement and retirement accounts, including ROTH IRA. There are no OptionsHouse by Etrade IRA minimum
account balance requirements of any kind.
Pricing and Fees
OptionsHouse’s charge for trading stocks and ETF’s is $4.95, placing the broker squarely in the low-cost category. Options are an extra $0.50 per
contract. Placing a trade with a living, breathing broker tacks on an extra $25.
Mutual fund transactions at OptionsHouse by Etrade carry a $20 charge. Margin debits of less than $25,000 cost 6.5%.
Research
Research tools at OptionsHouse by Etrade are on the meager side. Data from TradeMonster is given for stock research, and Lipper provides data for mutual funds.
Compared to other brokers, such as Fidelity and Schwab, that provide information from multiple sources, the amount of research information at
OptionsHouse by Etrade is on the low side.
Customer Service
OptionsHouse by Etrade can be contacted via an on-line chat system, phone, fax, or e-mail. The chat and phone service are available 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (CST),
Monday through Friday.
Trading Tools
Since the merger with TradeMonster, OptionsHouse by Etrade has adopted the former’s professional level trading platform. It offers charting, options research,
order entry, account and position data, market news, plus a tool for strategy testing. The platform is launched from the OptionsHouse by Etrade web site and
generates a new window from the web browser.
Within the platform, there is extensive search capability for option chains and strategies. Traders can navigate through straddles, butterflies,
strangles, and other option tactics. Clicking on an option produces an appropriate trading ticket, making the process simple and user friendly.
The platform is customizable and easy to learn. Clicking on the bond button takes the user back to the original web browser. Some issues have to
be handled in the original browser, while others are viewed in the platform window, a characteristic which some users might find distracting.
Mobile Trading
OptionsHouse by Etrade has applications for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, and mobile web. The interface is intuitive and user friendly. Users
can place an order, read market news, search for options, and look over account and position data. Investors can even select virtual trade on
the mobile app to practice trading. Unfortunately, right now funds transfer isn’t available, nor is mobile check deposit.
Promotions
Right now, customers who open and fund an OptionsHouse by Etrade IRA with at least $5,000 within first 30 days will receive 60 days of commission-free trading.
The brokerage firm also has a refer-a-friend program offering current clients $150 cash or 30 free trades when someone they refer to the broker
funds an account.
OptionsHouse by Etrade IRAs
OptionsHouse by Etrade does not charge an IRA account setup fee. Unlike many competitors, it does not have an annual (maintenance, custodial) IRA fees.
There is only one fee pertaining to IRAs - $60 for closing a retirement account. Another potential expense is the Outbound Full (Partial)
Account Transfer fee of $75 ($25 for partial transfer) which will only happen if client decides to move account (IRA or non-IRA) to another firm.
Is OptionsHouse by Etrade Safe?
Like with all other online brokers listed on our website, all customer brokerage accounts at OptionsHouse by Etrade are insured by SIPC, http://www.sipc.org/ in case of brokerage firm failure,
very similarly to the way bank accounts are insured by the FDIC. The insurance is limited to $500,000 per customer, including up to $250,000 for cash.
Cons
The lack of 24/7 customer service, inadequate research tools, and limited investment education create a perception that OptionsHouse by Etrade is only
appropriate for seasoned and experienced traders who don’t need a lot of hand holding.
Without international trading, OptionsHouse by Etrade is at a serious disadvantage in an age where investors are looking beyond their borders in search of financial opportunities. For a little extra money at E*Trade, Fidelity, or Schwab, investors can tap into global markets, creating more possibilities in today’s global economy.
OptionsHouse by Etrade offers no ETF’s that are commission-free, a major failure in an era in which traders expect their broker to offer at least a handful of ETF’s commission free. With OptionsHouse by Etrade at $4.95 per trade and no free ETF’s, and Schwab at $4.95 and more than 175 free ETF’s, the wise investor has to wonder who really is the low-cost broker at the end of the month.
Many brokerage firms offer no load mutual funds with no transaction fees — Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade just to name a few. OptionHouse’s $25 charge for mutual fund trades is a big turn off to investors who are accustomed to trading them for free.
Extra features such as forex, futures, and actual brick-and-mortar branches cannot be found here. Unfortunately, there isn’t an account designed for cash management, a common feature nowadays with many brokers.
Conclusion
In Barron's magazine annual survey of online brokers OptionsHouse by Etrade was rated 4 1/2 stars (the highest rating in the review) for Trade Experience
and awarded an impressive fifth consecutive "Best for Options Traders" ranking.
In stock broker survey, OptionsHouse by Etrade got top scores in Mobile and Portfolio Analysis & Reports categories as
well as got rated near the top in Usability, Research Amenities, Trading Technology, and in Customer Service & Education categories.
Because of low commissions and no IRA fees, OptionsHouse by Etrade is a great brokerage firm for both ROTH IRA and traditional IRA accounts.
Etrade Fee For Buying and Selling Stock Disclaimer
Etrade fees for stock selling trades can change at any time. For the most recent and accurate information on Etrade commission cost to buy or sell stock visit their website.
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