How Long Should You Hold Stocks? (2024)

By Amanda Holden ·April 24, 2023 · 8 minute read

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How Long Should You Hold Stocks? (1)

Day traders may hold stocks for a few hours, while buy-and-hold investors may hold onto a stock for decades. There is no single formula that works for everyone when it comes to deciding how long to hold stocks.

Rather, the decision to hold stocks or sell them must include a number of factors that may be unique to each investor. These can include everything from company fundamentals to industry trends to the investor’s own goals.

In a perfect world, an investor would hold onto stocks until they made a profit. But how much of a gain, and how long that might take — and what to do if the stock loses value? — is more complicated than it seems. Here are some variables to consider.

Why Hold Onto Stocks for the Long Term?

Here are some reasons for an investor to hold on to a stock: They only feel compelled to sell it because of that stock’s most recent performance in the markets. But selling a stock because of a sudden drop in value could be considered timing the market — a strategy that, at times, can hurt investors.

What happens today in the markets doesn’t necessarily reflect longer trends, therefore holding onto stocks despite a dip may give your shares time to recover.

A study done by Dalbar illustrates how investors who attempt to time the market often turn into their own worst enemies. During the 20-year period studied, the . During the same time period, the average investor achieved a return of just 2.5%, due to the frequent changing of their investment holdings (often mutual funds).

Sure, in the moment, it can be tempting to sell a stock based on a dramatic price change. But, calculating stock profit or loss alone may not be particularly helpful. Stocks that enjoy long-term growth take on some dips in price. And, similarly, dud stocks may have some brief moments in the sun.

Buying and Holding for the Long Game

What’s the ideal holding period for a stock? Some investors might say forever. (Or, at least until the money is needed — like, for income when you’ve reached your target retirement date.)

There are several allures of holding stocks for a long time. First, spending ample time in the market reduces the risk of short-term market volatility. Ups and downs in value are an inevitable part of investing in the stock market, whether through a single stock or a fund. Especially in the short-term, the market could move in any direction.

The bear market between 2007 and 2009 was a prime example of this, as the U.S. stock market lost more than 50% of its value then. This wasn’t an ideal time to be holding stocks — but it was an even worse time to sell. With a buy-and-hold strategy, investors can keep their eyes fixed on the potential for a recovery. The stock market hasn’t yet experienced a dip that it did not bounce back from.

What Is Index Investing?

This is why some investors prefer passive investing strategies. Index funds hold a representative sample of the entire stock market, in an attempt to achieve the market’s average returns. Instead of betting on just one company stock’s performance, index funds invest in the entire engine of the economy. Research has shown that over time, market returns may exceed the returns of active strategies.

Since the great recession of 2008, the stock market has more than made back its losses. This is why buy-and-hold is a strategy that is popular with index fund investors.

Holding Stocks for Future Profitability

Let’s say that a company’s stock has performed well. Perhaps, it’s even hit an investor’s profitability target. Is growth, alone, a good reason to sell? Some investors might think no.

At any moment in time, what makes an investment worth holding on to is the belief that it will be profitable in the future. Therefore, what has happened in the recent past may or may not be relevant to the future.

In investing parlance, this notion is called fundamental analysis. Here are just a few big factors that an investor might chew on when adopting this type of market analysis:

An investor wants to hold on to the stock of a company that continues to increase its sales over time, with a forward-looking forecast that indicates growth. Perhaps the company continues to beat Wall Street’s expectations on earnings.

Maybe, the company has strong management that continues to improve profit margins without sacrificing innovation. Or, perhaps the company continues to develop products that increasingly capture market share, making the company a stronger industry competitor.

While none of the above scenarios outright guarantee a company’s stock will continue to perform well into the future, keeping an eye trained to the days ahead — instead of the past — may be a useful skill for investors to develop.

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Reasons to Sell Stocks

Some investors and traders, however, are not interested in long-term holding strategies. Instead, they set certain profit thresholds, selling once those requirements are met.

Selling Once a Stock Hits a Profit Requirement

Here’s one scenario:

A trader may want to sell once a stock reaches 10% or 20% in profit. Similarly, a stock could be sold once it hits a preselected price target — usually based on a stock’s per-share price. Price-target selling can be set up automatically, through what’s called a limit order.

For example, an investor buys a stock for $50. They want to sell this stock if (and only if) the price reaches $65. A limit order can be set to sell when the stock hits this target price. If it never reaches $65, then order is not filled (and the stock remains held).

Selling for Personal Reasons

Although it is not, generally, recommended that an investment strategy change in response to the market’s ups and downs, there are plenty of personal reasons why a person may opt to sell stock investments.

Certain life events may create a shift in an investor’s ability to tolerate the risk of stocks. For instance, a divorce, family death, the birth of a child, or a big move may cause a person to want to keep more of their overall investment portfolio in easy-to-access cash (or other less volatile investments).

Similarly, a person might just want to build up their cash savings. For financial goals with a more immediate timeline, it may make little sense to subject that money to the volatility of the stock market. Instead, savers may prefer to sell stocks to keep that money liquid and ready to be used.

Changes in personal investment strategy can also drive an individual to sell stocks. Shifts along these lines may have nothing to do with a stock’s recent performance or that of the market. Investors approaching retirement, for example, could want to shift towards more conservative investments, like cash or bond holdings.

Selling to Diversify Assets

Many investors opt to put a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash in their long-term investment portfolios. For example, an investor may choose a mix of 70% stocks and 30% bonds to balance out investment goals and risk tolerance.

But, when diversifying assets, one type of investment may outperform the other. Because of the potential for this uneven growth, an investor’s asset allocation could get thrown out of balance.

Let’s imagine a large spurt of growth in the stock market coupled with more lackluster growth in the bond market. Remember the investor from above, with a 70/30 mix? Maybe, now. they’re left with a portfolio that’s closer to 80% stocks and 20% bonds.

That mix may carry more risk than the investor deems appropriate. So, in this scenario, rebalancing the portfolio requires selling some stock holdings and then moving the funds into less volatile bonds.

Understanding Short-Term Holdings

Investors debating how long to hold their stocks will likely want to consider taxes. There’s no minimum amount of time when an investor needs to hold on to stock.

But, investments that are sold at a gain are taxed at a capital gains tax rate. This rate changes, depending on whether the investor held onto the stock for more or less than one year.

For a holding period of less than one year, any gains will be taxed at a person’s marginal income tax rate. By holding onto a stock for more than one year, an investor will likely lower their tax burden. It can be helpful for investors to speak with a certified tax professional before adopting any tax strategy.

The Takeaway

Even though investors typically put a great deal of thought into selecting stocks and other securities, with the hope that those securities will appreciate in value, there is no guarantee they will. And there is no crystal ball that can tell any investor how long to hold onto a stock.

Sometimes it’s the stock itself that determines how long you’ll hold it. But sometimes your investing strategy determines your stock selection. If you’re planning to sell quickly with a gain in mind, that’s one approach. But if you expect to hold onto a stock for the long haul, that can also influence which stocks you think have staying power.

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How Long Should You Hold Stocks? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Should You Hold Stocks? ›

Though there is no ideal time for holding stock, you should stay invested for at least 1-1.5 years. If you see the stock price of your share booming, you will have the question of how long do you have to hold stock? Remember, if it is zooming today, what will be its price after ten years?

How long should you hold onto a stock for? ›

For a holding period of less than one year, any gains will be taxed at a person's marginal income tax rate. By holding onto a stock for more than one year, an investor will likely lower their tax burden. It can be helpful for investors to speak with a certified tax professional before adopting any tax strategy.

Is it better to hold stock long term? ›

Holding stocks for the long-term can help you ride the highs and lows of the market and benefit from lower tax rates, and it tends to be less costly. Aswath Damodoran. "Historical Returns on Stocks, Bonds and Bills: 1928-2023." View "Annual Real Returns" section.

What is the 3-5-7 rule in trading? ›

A risk management principle known as the “3-5-7” rule in trading advises diversifying one's financial holdings to reduce risk. The 3% rule states that you should never risk more than 3% of your whole trading capital on a single deal.

When should I sell my stock? ›

If certain shares have consistently underperformed with little hope of recovery, it may be wise to sell them. Selling under-performers can free up capital that could be better invested elsewhere and allow you to use capital losses to offset gains for tax purposes.

At what age should you get out of the stock market? ›

There are no set ages to get into or to get out of the stock market. While older clients may want to reduce their investing risk as they age, this doesn't necessarily mean they should be totally out of the stock market.

How long to hold stock to avoid tax? ›

You may have to pay capital gains tax on stocks sold for a profit. Any profit you make from selling a stock is taxable at either 0%, 15% or 20% if you held the shares for more than a year. If you held the shares for a year or less, you'll be taxed at your ordinary tax rate.

Why are the rich selling their stocks? ›

In mid-2023, news began to spread about the world's super-rich reducing their ownership of shares in public companies. The reason behind this move is to secure their wealth amidst rising interest rates and economic uncertainty. Similar issues are still ongoing to this day.

How to get 10% return on investment? ›

Investments That Can Potentially Return 10% or More
  1. Stocks.
  2. Real Estate.
  3. Private Credit.
  4. Junk Bonds.
  5. Index Funds.
  6. Buying a Business.
  7. High-End Art or Other Collectables.
Sep 17, 2023

When should you exit a long term stock? ›

Investors consider selling if the company's fundamentals worsen. This includes consistent earnings decline, losing market share, or ineffective management. These signs often point to long-term financial problems.

What is the 11am rule in stocks? ›

It is not a hard and fast rule, but rather a guideline that has been observed by many traders over the years. The logic behind this rule is that if the market has not reversed by 11 am EST, it is less likely to experience a significant trend reversal during the remainder of the trading day.

What is the 10am rule in stocks? ›

Some traders follow something called the "10 a.m. rule." The stock market opens for trading at 9:30 a.m., and the time between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. often has significant trading volume. Traders that follow the 10 a.m. rule think a stock's price trajectory is relatively set for the day by the end of that half-hour.

What is 90% rule in trading? ›

The 90 rule in Forex is a commonly cited statistic that states that 90% of Forex traders lose 90% of their money in the first 90 days. This is a sobering statistic, but it is important to understand why it is true and how to avoid falling into the same trap.

How long should you stay in stocks? ›

If you see any giant stock of any good company in a 10 years frame, you will see it has generated good returns in the long term. Though there is no ideal time for holding stock, you should stay invested for at least 1-1.5 years.

Does Warren Buffett ever sell? ›

Incidentally, Buffett's stock selling hasn't been limited to 2023; Berkshire was a net seller of stocks in both 2020 and 2021, too.

Can I sell a stock and buy it back the same day? ›

Retail investors can buy and sell stock on the same day—as long as they don't break FINRA's PDT rule, adopted to discourage excessive trading.

How long should stock be kept? ›

So how long does it last in the fridge? Provided you have a good, thick layer of fat that has solidified on top of the liquid, then you can keep it in the fridge for a couple of weeks. If you don't have a good fat layer on top, 3-4 days. Best is to keep a couple of jars in the fridge and the rest in the freezer.

What is the average time someone holds a stock? ›

The long-term capital gains tax rate ranges from 0% to 20%, depending on your income and filing status. What Is the Average Stock Holding Period? In terms of how long stocks stick around in a portfolio, the average investor holds shares for 5.5 months.

How long do you keep money in a stock? ›

Short-term and long-term goals

Stock market investments should be held as part of a long-term investment plan, which means you shouldn't expect to need the money for at least five years, if not longer. However, sometimes goals change, so it's important to reevaluate them periodically.

What is the 10 am rule in stock trading? ›

Some traders follow something called the "10 a.m. rule." The stock market opens for trading at 9:30 a.m., and the time between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. often has significant trading volume. Traders that follow the 10 a.m. rule think a stock's price trajectory is relatively set for the day by the end of that half-hour.

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