Direct purchase stocks

If you felt burned by the stock market following the financial crash of , you are not alone. The financial crash of left many wary of investing in the stock market and working with stockbrokers. In recent years, however, the investment landscape has undergone a transformation. Between the internet and numerous investment apps, it is possible to purchase stocks directly online without a broker. As a result, you have more flexibility in what you trade, when you trade and how much you pay in fees.

How to Buy Stocks

While many investors choose to buy and sell investments through a brokerage account , some investors may wonder how they can buy stocks without a broker. Direct investment plans offer the brokerage alternative that those investors are seeking. If your primary investing goal is to acquire a single company's stock as directly as possible, one of these plans can help you achieve that goal, but be aware of the drawbacks that come with avoiding brokerage services before you abandon them completely.

Often, the easiest method of buying stocks without a broker is by participating in a company's direct stock plan DSP. These plans were originally conceived generations ago as a way for businesses to let smaller investors buy ownership directly from the company. Investors buy-in by transferring money from their checking or savings account.

The company will establish minimum investment amounts, both for the initial purchase and for any subsequent purchases. The plan administrators batch the cash from those participating in the direct stock plan and use it to buy shares of the company at regular intervals and at the average market price.

Companies may also offer a dividend reinvestment plan DRIP. These are similar to direct stock plans, except that they automate the process of buying more stock over the years. DRIPs automatically take cash dividends paid out by the company you own and use them to buy more shares. Depending on the specifics of the plan, this service may be free or there may be small commission fees. In the U. If you are fortunate enough to have such an arrangement, DRIPs don't have as much appeal. Dividend reinvestment plans are often coupled with cash investment options that resemble direct stock purchase plans.

This gives you the ability to buy more stock whenever you want, not just the four times a year dividends are issued. The primary advantage of avoiding brokers and buying directly from a company is simplicity. Apps and websites have significantly streamlined the broker experience, but an investor still has to choose between securities and make decisions about the type of order to place for those investments.

Direct stock purchases and dividend reinvestment plans can be even more simple—just send the money to the right place and you're enrolled in the plan. Direct stock plans also allow for enhanced communication between the company and its investors. When you invest through a brokerage, any notices from the company will come through the brokerage. For investors with a variety of investments, company notices blend together because they all appear in your inbox as a message from your brokerage, rather than the company.

This could lead to some investors skipping messages altogether, potentially missing out on useful information. By communicating directly, the company and its investors remain in better contact. Institutional investors may have access to extra benefits through direct stock purchase plans, depending on the company issuing the stock.

Special "waiver discounts" allow institutional investors to buy shares at a discount that isn't broadly advertised. The simplicity that direct plan investors enjoy is also the main disadvantage of broker alternatives. If you sign up for a Home Depot direct stock purchase plan, for example, you will only have the option to buy Home Depot stock.

An investor with a brokerage account and an investor with a direct stock plan could acquire the same Home Depot stock at the same price, but the investor with the brokerage account could also acquire any other security the brokerage services.

For traders who want to diversify and explore their options, there's no substitute for using a broker. Traditionally, direct plans have also enjoyed the benefit of commission-free, or low-commission trades, especially when compared to the costs of using a full-service broker.

However, that benefit has largely vanished in the digital era. Many brokerages—even major firms like Fidelity and Charles Schwab—have dropped their commission fees for online trades. Direct stock plans also impede an investor's ability to time trades. Cashing out your position isn't as simple as tapping a few buttons on a brokerage app. This is fine for buy-and-hold investors who plan on holding stocks for decades. Investors who mostly care about dividends will also likely feel content with direct plans.

Investors who trade often and enjoy regularly rebalancing their portfolio, on the other hand, will be frustrated by the limitations. The Balance does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. The Home Depot. Shareholder Service Solutions. Why Not? Charles Schwab. Fidelity Investments. Investing for Beginners Stocks. By Full Bio Follow Twitter. Joshua Kennon co-authored "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Investing, 3rd Edition" and runs his own asset management firm for the affluent.

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Trade Stocks, Forex, Oil Online, CFDs. % of retail lose money. Start Now! A direct stock purchase plan (DSPP) is a program that enables individual investors to purchase a company's stock directly from that company.

Company Filings More Search Options. Many companies allow you to buy or sell shares directly through a direct stock plan DSP. You can also have the cash dividends you receive from the company automatically reinvested into more shares through a dividend reinvestment plan DRIP. Direct Stock Plans — Some companies allow you to purchase or sell stock directly through them without your having to use or pay commissions to a broker.

While many investors choose to buy and sell investments through a brokerage account , some investors may wonder how they can buy stocks without a broker. Direct investment plans offer the brokerage alternative that those investors are seeking.

You can set up an account by depositing cash or stocks in a brokerage account. If you prefer buying and selling stocks online, you can use sites like E-Trade or Ameritrade. Those are just two of the most well-known electronic brokerages, but many large firms have online options as well.

Direct Investment Plans: Buying Stock Directly from the Company

Some companies that offer DSPPs make the plans directly available to retail investors while others use transfer agents or other third-party administrators to handle these transactions. Such plans offer low fees and sometimes the ability to purchase shares at a discount. Not all companies offer DSPPs; and these plans may come with restrictions about when an individual may purchase shares. Such plans have lost some of their appeal over the last two decades as investing through online brokers has become less expensive and more convenient, though DSPPs still offer advantage for the long-term investor who doesn't have much money to get started. A DSPP allows individual investors to establish and account in which to make deposits for the purpose of purchasing shares directly from a given company.

Direct Stock Purchase Plan (DSPP)

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Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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Key Post: Buying US Stocks by 'Direct Purchase'

It's designed for individual investors who might otherwise avoid making small, long-term stock purchases because of large minimum brokerage fees. You always have control of your shares. You may withdraw your DSPP holdings of Home Depot stock at any time, or may ask the program administrator to sell your shares. Purchasing Stock If you do not already own Home Depot stock, or if your stock is held through a brokerage account, you may use the plan to buy your first shares directly from the Company. If you already own Home Depot stock, you may invest cash dividends and optional cash purchases in additional shares of Company stock. Transaction Fees For each transaction, a small service charge is deducted from your investment plus the pro rata amount of brokerage commissions generally 5 cents per share for purchases and 15 cents per share for sales. Service charges are:. Features at No Charge Through DSPP, you receive a stock safekeeping service and the ability to make transfers or gifts of Company stock - all at no charge. The recipient of the transfer or gift will have an account opened in their name and will enjoy full program benefits. You may automatically receive The Home Depot, Inc. To choose your options for e-mail notification, please enter your e-mail address below and click Submit. For all other inquiries including Customer Care issues please call The Home Depot Store Support Center at , or toll free THD Canada. THD Mexico.

Buy Stock Direct

Investing wth DSPPs is a low-cost way to invest directly with a publicly traded company. These plans are generally set up directly with the company or are administered through a third party transfer agent. Using a direct stock purchase plan has advantages over both traditional and online discount brokers. First, these plans avoid sometimes costly commissions and fees charged by brokerage firms. Another important benefit of using a DSPP is the passive investing opportunities that come with them. Investors can usually set up an automatic investment which transfers money from a bank account and purchases shares with the money. For as many reasons as there are to like direct stock purchase plans, there are some disadvantages investors should be aware of. T here are a number of different ways to invest in the stock market. Online discount brokers tend to be the most popular choice for buying and selling stock based on convenience and relatively low commissions and fees.