OTC Markets: What They Are And How They Work
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When it comes to equities trading, movements of share https://www.xcritical.com/ prices on major stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq tend to dominate headlines. But every day, millions of equity trades are made off the stock exchanges in what’s known as over-the-counter (OTC) trading. Since regulations for OTC markets are less stringent than major exchanges, companies have more flexibility in areas like reporting requirements, share pricing, and corporate governance. For investors, this means fewer restrictions on trading and more opportunities to find value.
Difference Between OTC and Exchange
Because they trade like most other stocks, you can buy and sell OTC over the counter exchange stocks through most major online brokers. To buy shares of an OTC stock, you’ll need to know the company’s ticker symbol and have enough money in your brokerage account to buy the desired number of shares. In the U.S., the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), later the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), was established in 1939 to regulate the OTC market. Since the exchanges take in much of the legitimate investment capital, stocks listed on them have far greater liquidity. OTC securities, meanwhile, often have very low liquidity, which means just a few trades can change their prices fast, leading to significant volatility. This has made the OTC markets a breeding ground for pump-and-dump schemes and other frauds that have long kept the enforcement division of the U.S.
What are the main factors to consider when researching OTC stocks?
The OTC marketplace is an alternative for small companies or those who do not want to list or cannot list on the standard exchanges. Listing on a standard exchange is an expensive and time-consuming process, and often outside the financial capabilities of many smaller companies. After evaluating the quotes and considering the company’s prospects, MegaFund buys 30,000 shares from OTC Securities Group at $0.85 per share. The trade is executed directly between MegaFund and OTC Securities Group through a private negotiation.
What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Stocks?
Cryptocurrencies are not traded on the stock market, and are often exchanged directly between sellers and buyers using electronic OTC trades. The underlying asset may be anything from commodities to bonds to interest rates. OTC stands for “over-the-counter.” OTC markets facilitate trading of securities outside of formal exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange.
A Look at Over-the-Counter Equities Trading
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)—certificates representing a specified number of shares in a foreign stock—might also trade as OTC equities instead of on exchanges. That can include ADRs for large global companies that have determined not to list in the US. OTC stocks tend to be more volatile, as they are often smaller companies. Be prepared for potentially large price swings, especially with very small cap stocks known as “penny stocks.” Only invest money that you can afford to lose. OTC companies have more relaxed reporting standards, so perform due diligence to understand the company and any risks before investing.
This rebate will be deducted from your cost to place the trade and will be reflected on your trade confirmation. To learn more, see our Options Rebate Program Terms & Conditions, Order Rebate FAQ and Fee Schedule. The over-the-counter (OTC) markets have been facilitating trading of financial instruments for decades. The OTCQB tier, also known as the Venture Market, requires companies to be fully reporting in the U.S., have a minimum bid price of $0.01, and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.
- Commission-free trading refers to $0 commissions charged on trades of US listed registered securities placed during the US Markets Regular Trading Hours in self-directed brokerage accounts offered by Public Investing.
- This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research.
- For example, many hugely profitable global companies that are listed on foreign exchanges trade OTC in the U.S. to avoid the additional regulatory requirements of trading on a major U.S. stock exchange.
- For the self-directed investor willing to take on more risk in exchange for the possibility of higher rewards, OTC markets are worth considering as part of a diversified investment strategy.
- This can be done by searching for the OTC stock on the platform and placing an order.
- A stock exchange — like NYSE or Nasdaq — is a regulated environment in which buyers and sellers can trade shares of publicly listed companies.
By posting bid and ask prices, market makers provide liquidity to the OTC markets. The difference between the bid and ask price is the market maker’s profit. For companies not listed on major exchanges like the NYSE or Dow Jones, OTC markets offer a way to go public and raise capital. Investors should exercise caution, especially with thinly traded penny stocks, as there is greater potential for fraud and manipulation.
But OTC networks lack the rigorous financial reporting and transparency standards of major stock exchanges, so extra caution and due diligence is required from investors. OTC markets offer access to emerging companies that may not meet the listing requirements of major exchanges. These smaller, growing companies can sometimes provide investors with the potential for higher returns, although this comes with higher risk.
To trade securities on OTC markets, companies must meet certain requirements to qualify for one of three market tiers with varying levels of disclosure and reporting standards. The OTC Markets Group operates regulated markets for trading over 12,000 U.S. and international securities that are not listed on indices and exchanges like the Dow Jones or Nasdaq. On OTC markets, broker-dealers negotiate directly with one another to match buyers and sellers. Investors can find unique opportunities not available on mainstream exchanges, such as complex transactions, odd lots, block trades, and special terms. The personal relationships between broker-dealers also facilitate the flow of information about up-and-coming companies.
What’s more, the quoted prices may not be as readily available—with less liquidity, these stocks are prone to big swings in prices. Or maybe the company can’t afford or doesn’t want to pay the listing fees of major exchanges. Whatever the case, the company could sell its stock on the over-the-counter market instead, and it would be selling “unlisted stock” or OTC securities. Basically, it’s selling stock that isn’t listed on a major security exchange. The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.
The key is doing thorough research, understanding the risks, and only investing money you can afford to lose. If you maintain realistic expectations about the level of volatility, OTC markets could be an avenue for substantial gains. For OTC stocks, management transparency and communication are also important. See if the company regularly updates investors on business progress and milestones. Our InvestingPro platform provides investors a way to screen and analyze securities across all tiers of the OTC markets. Con artists use social media and email to heavily promote a thinly-traded stock in which they have an interest.
However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit. Those are some of the key reasons that a company might file to list its stock over the counter. Transactions in OTC equities must be reported to the FINRA OTC Reporting Facility (ORF) for real-time public dissemination. Also, analyze their competitive landscape to identify major competitors and see how they stack up. An innovative business model in a growing industry with few major competitors is ideal.
When a company is unlisted, it is public and can sell stocks, just not on a security exchange such as Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange. Over-the-counter markets are those where stocks that aren’t listed on major exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq can be traded. More than 12,000 stocks trade over the counter, and the companies that issue these stocks choose to trade this way for a variety of reasons. To buy a security on the OTC market, investors identify the specific security to purchase and the amount to invest. Most brokers that sell exchange-listed securities also sell OTC securities electronically on a online platform or via a telephone. Public Investing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Holdings, Inc. (“Public Holdings”).