What is a limit order?

Limit order allows traders to specify the maximum (or minimum) price at which they are willing to buy (sell) an asset, and determine their desired price range for trading.

As you know, in the market order, the transaction is done at the current market price, which depending on the target market can be significantly different from the trader’s expected price. A limit order is for those investors who do not want to pay more than a certain amount to buy a specific asset in a market or want to sell an asset at a price higher than a certain level and their order cannot be placed at a price lower than that.

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So it is better to say that a limit order is a type of order in financial transactions that is used to buy and sell an asset at a certain price or a better price. For a buy limit order, your order will be placed only at the limit price and at a lower price, and for a sell limit order, it will be placed at a specified price or a higher price. This stipulation in limit orders allows traders to have better control over the realized price of their assets.

Of course, using a limit order in highly-paced markets may lead to losing investment opportunities. For example, imagine that you have placed a buy-limit order to buy Ethereum tokens at the price of $1,990. Now consider a situation where the price of this asset drops to $1,995 or even reaches $1,990 for a short time; but suddenly it returns to the upward path and your buy order is not executed, which probably means that you have missed a great investment opportunity.

How does a limit order work?

A limit order instructs a broker to purchase a stock or other investment at a certain price or lower, or to sell a stock at the specified price or higher. A limit order essentially instructs your broker that you wish to purchase or sell a security, but only if the price of the asset reaches the target price that you have specified. The security must hit the limit price or higher before a trade can be executed by a broker with these instructions.

Limit orders are used by investors when they are worried that a stock’s price might suddenly move significantly or when they are not particularly interested in immediately making a trade. It’s possible to view the whole cost as being more significant than transaction execution speed. Because they think a stock’s price will eventually rise to a more acceptable level, some investors employ limit orders.

Limit order Vs. market order

When we talk about Limit order vs market order we can specify more precisely how we want our broker to execute your trades using various forms of orders. By placing a limit order or stop order, you are instructing your broker that you do not want your order to be filled at the current market price but rather at a predetermined price.

Limit and stop orders differ in 2 certain ways:

1. A limit order utilizes a price to specify the lowest amount at which a transaction is acceptable, but a stop order only uses a price to initiate an actual order when the target price is touched.
2. A limit order is visible to the market, whereas a stop order is not until it is activated.

Stop loss vs. limit orders

A limit order is visible to the entire market. If the stock price hits a specific level, both place an order to trade it. A stop order, also referred to as a stop loss order, however, only activates at the stop price or worse. A purchase stop order ends when the price is met or exceeded. When the price reaches the set level or lower, a sell stop order is triggered. A limit order effectively absorbs gains. Stop orders reduce loss.

Stop-limit vs. limit orders

An open market can see a limit order. The prices you set influence other prices since traders are aware that you are wanting to transact.

Until the trigger price is met and the broker starts looking for a deal, a stop limit order is often not available. A stop limit order establishes a stop order that delays activation of the order until a specified stop limit order price. After that, you can establish a limit order to delay the trade’s execution until a specific limit price is reached.

Stop limit vs. stop loss orders

Stop limit orders and stop orders have a lot in common. If the stock price hits a specific level, both place an order to trade it. A stop order, also referred to as a stop loss order, however, only activates at the stop price or worse. A purchase stop order ends when the price is met or exceeded. When the price reaches the set level or lower, a sell stop order is triggered. A limit order effectively absorbs gains. Stop orders reduce loss.

Both kinds of orders are employed to reduce the danger of future losses on held positions or to realize gains from swing trading. Stop-limit orders factor in the limit price at which the order will be filled, and stop-loss orders guarantee execution if the position reaches a specific price.

Whether they are long or short, an investor can place either a stop-limit order or a stop-loss order, albeit the sort of order they set will depend on their position and the current market price.

When to use a limit order?

You often use this option when you have done thorough research and determined that a value stock is trading below its estimated $50 per share intrinsic value (for example). The stock’s current market price is little under $40 per share, so you decide to set a limit order with a $40 per share strike price to ensure that you gain enough value as the price of the shares increases to make investing in the stock worthwhile.

While placing a market order would ensure that the trade is executed immediately, setting a limit order ensures that you won’t overspend if the stock’s price jumps quickly and unexpectedly. If the deal doesn’t go through, you can either use a market order or put a new limit order at a different price.

Imagine that you now possess a stock whose price is close to its intrinsic value, which you estimate to be $75 per share. You set a limit order to sell your shares when the stock price reaches $75 since you think it won’t go higher than its intrinsic worth. Your limit order will only be carried out if the stock price is at or above $75 per share, as it is now trading at about $72 per share. If not, you keep holding onto your shares up until you place a new limit order or use a market order to liquidate them.

Using a limit order rather than a market order carries the greatest chance of a trade never executing. A stock’s price may abruptly increase or dramatically decrease depending on a number of variables.

Conclusion

Limit orders might be the best strategy for avoiding missing a lucrative investing opportunity. That is especially true if you are concerned about losing money due to fluctuations in the value of your shares. But if you are worried that you’re buying or selling too much, you might want to conduct some research or speak with a professional. Always lay out the composition of your investing portfolio to ensure long-term success.