If you are an investor, your portfolio includes equities. You will probably communicate with the stock market as an investor through a broker or depository participant (DP). When you trade on the stock market, sometimes referred to as the secondary market, you are purchasing and selling shares that have been listed there. Investors can, however, also buy shares in companies that are not publicly traded.
Investors can acquire these equities, sometimes called OTC or over-the-counter stocks, from businesses that aren’t already listed on the internet stock exchange. In this post, let’s examine OTC stocks, how to access the OTC stock market, and how to purchase over-the-counter stocks.
Over Counter (OTC) stocks: what are they?
Secondary markets include the stock market. That is to say. You are buying shares from other investors and selling them on the stock market rather than directly from the firm. Over-the-counter stocks have their own OTC stock market because they are not listed on stock exchanges like the BSE and NSE.
Companies that let you purchase over-the-counter stocks are often considerably smaller than publicly traded ones, with market capitalizations of $50 million or less. People who trade OTC stocks see promise in these businesses because it’s likely that they are developing goods or technologies that may become widely used and bring in substantial profits in the future. As a result, over-the-counter stocks, sometimes known as penny stocks, typically have a lower share price.
The most effective approach to purchasing over-the-counter stocks.
You cannot buy OTC equities through such channels since they are not listed on stock exchanges and do not trade on those markets. Though not all, some online discount brokers provide the service enabling you to buy OTC stocks. It is advisable to conduct extensive research on the business and the DP you want to use to purchase over-the-counter stocks. Offline brokers can also provide comparable services. The catch here is that processing time and processing costs for OTC equities could be charged as they are not listed on the stock market.
Buying OTC Stocks: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Typically trading at low prices: if many shares are being traded, it is simpler to establish a substantial stake.
- In addition, common stock prices are correlated with a greater likelihood of big percentage swings: including the potential for significant gains from quickly rising stock prices.
Cons
- More volatile: Unlike those that are traded on a significant stock market
- Less regulation: Because there is less governmental control over OTC stocks, market manipulation can happen more frequently. Investors may only sometimes know what they are getting into when purchasing OTC stocks. The self-regulatory organization (SRO) that regulates the OTC equity market is FINRA, which also regulates all broker-dealers.
- Liquidity is very low: It might be challenging to deal without paying a premium to acquire or sell at a discount. Therefore, before trading, investors should perform their due diligence by keeping an eye on the bid-ask spread for OTC equities.
- OTC stock orders may also take longer to fulfill and occasionally need to be fulfilled.
FINAL INSIGHT
Investors should exercise caution when dealing with OTC equities since the absence of a stock exchange listing acts as a dissuasive factor against the OTC stock market. However, if you have the necessary skills and expertise to spot under-the-radar stocks with promise, you can get in before the stock lists on the stock exchange.