Penny stocks are risky, low-cost investments, though they don’t actually cost a penny. They are shares of small companies that trade outside of major stock exchanges.
Some brokers add a surcharge to stocks that are valued at less than a certain dollar amount, like penny stocks. Many won't extend their free commission offers to unlisted stocks. The definition of penny stocks will also vary by broker. Some consider anything trading under $5 to be a penny stock, while others put the cutoff at $2 or $1. (For more on penny stock trading, see our article on investing in penny stocks.)
Penny stocks may seem like a steal when stacked against companies that trade for $500 or more. This is where the backstory is important: These stocks are cheap for a reason. Because they are issued by small, yet-to-be-established companies, penny stock values can be turbulent. They are often hard to research and accurately value, and they trade infrequently, which means they can be tough to sell. (Here are other ways to find cheap stocks beyond penny stocks.)
Because of less stringent financial disclosure requirements, penny stocks are more susceptible to “pump and dump” schemes, where traders talk up the value of a stock only to “dump” it at artificially inflated prices. (In an effort to discourage this practice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued new rules in September 2020 to prevent brokers from quoting OTC stocks unless companies issuing shares release up-to-date financial information.)
Choosing a penny stock broker
In case the above didn’t make this clear: There are significant risks that come with trading penny stocks, unless you are a sophisticated investor and you understand this market. You'll also want to be aware of the following when selecting an online broker to trade penny stocks:
Volume restrictions: Besides trade surcharges, there may be volume restrictions. Some, such as Fidelity or Firstrade, offer unlimited shares without additional fees, but a few charge more for large orders. Some brokers also limit the number of penny stock shares you can trade in one order or in one day, slowing your ability to trade and forcing you to pay another commission for a second order.
Trading restrictions: Watch out for firms that require you to trade penny stocks by placing a phone order or that impose limits on the types of trades you can execute. Ideally, your penny stock broker will allow you to trade penny stocks with the same online platform used for other stock trades.
Below are NerdWallet’s picks for the top brokerages for penny stock traders. You'll notice that many of these brokers also appear on our list of the top online brokers for stock trading; they're all well-rounded brokers that also offer a uniquely strong suite of features for penny stock trading.
Why you can trust NerdWallet's picks: Our writers and editors together have more than 50 years of experience writing about finance, and follow strict guidelines to maintain editorial integrity. We do a deep, independent analysis of dozens of investment firms, sorting through the details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing an investing account. To see our full methodology and learn more about our process, read our criteria for evaluating online brokers.
Penny stocks are risky, low-cost investments, though they don’t actually cost a penny. They are shares of small companies that trade outside of major stock exchanges.
Some brokers add a surcharge to stocks that are valued at less than a certain dollar amount, like penny stocks. Many won't extend their free commission offers to unlisted stocks. The definition of penny stocks will also vary by broker. Some consider anything trading under $5 to be a penny stock, while others put the cutoff at $2 or $1. (For more on penny stock trading, see our article on investing in penny stocks.)
Penny stocks may seem like a steal when stacked against companies that trade for $500 or more. This is where the backstory is important: These stocks are cheap for a reason. Because they are issued by small, yet-to-be-established companies, penny stock values can be turbulent. They are often hard to research and accurately value, and they trade infrequently, which means they can be tough to sell. (Here are other ways to find cheap stocks beyond penny stocks.)
Because of less stringent financial disclosure requirements, penny stocks are more susceptible to “pump and dump” schemes, where traders talk up the value of a stock only to “dump” it at artificially inflated prices. (In an effort to discourage this practice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued new rules in September 2020 to prevent brokers from quoting OTC stocks unless companies issuing shares release up-to-date financial information.)
Choosing a penny stock broker
In case the above didn’t make this clear: There are significant risks that come with trading penny stocks, unless you are a sophisticated investor and you understand this market. You'll also want to be aware of the following when selecting an online broker to trade penny stocks:
Volume restrictions: Besides trade surcharges, there may be volume restrictions. Some, such as Fidelity or Firstrade, offer unlimited shares without additional fees, but a few charge more for large orders. Some brokers also limit the number of penny stock shares you can trade in one order or in one day, slowing your ability to trade and forcing you to pay another commission for a second order.
Trading restrictions: Watch out for firms that require you to trade penny stocks by placing a phone order or that impose limits on the types of trades you can execute. Ideally, your penny stock broker will allow you to trade penny stocks with the same online platform used for other stock trades.
Below are NerdWallet’s picks for the top brokerages for penny stock traders. You'll notice that many of these brokers also appear on our list of the top online brokers for stock trading; they're all well-rounded brokers that also offer a uniquely strong suite of features for penny stock trading.
Why you can trust NerdWallet's picks: Our writers and editors together have more than 50 years of experience writing about finance, and follow strict guidelines to maintain editorial integrity. We do a deep, independent analysis of dozens of investment firms, sorting through the details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing an investing account. To see our full methodology and learn more about our process, read our criteria for evaluating online brokers.
