Stop Order
Stop Order
An order that becomes a market order once a specified stop price is reached. Buy stop orders are placed above the current market price to protect short positions or enter on breakouts; sell stop orders (stop-loss orders) are placed below the current market price to protect long positions or limit losses. Once triggered, the order executes at the next available price with no price guarantee.
An investor owns stock currently trading at $50 and wants downside protection. They enter a sell stop order at $45. If the stock falls and trades at $45, the stop order triggers and becomes a market order, executing at the next available price (which might be $44.90, $45.05, or any other price depending on market conditions). Alternatively, a short seller who sold stock at $40 might enter a buy stop at $45 to limit losses if the price rises.
Students often confuse buy stop and sell stop placement (buy stop goes ABOVE market, sell stop goes BELOW). Another common error is thinking the execution price equals the stop price; once triggered, it becomes a market order with no price guarantee. Many confuse stop orders with stop-limit orders (stop-limit becomes a limit order after trigger, providing price protection). Students also forget that stop orders are placed on the "bad" side (where you do not want the price to go).
How This Is Tested
- Identifying when a stop order will trigger based on market price movement
- Determining proper placement of buy stop vs sell stop orders relative to current market price
- Understanding that stop orders become market orders with no price guarantee after trigger
- Comparing stop orders to stop-limit orders and understanding execution differences
- Recognizing appropriate use cases for stop orders (protecting positions, limiting losses, entering on breakouts)
Regulatory Limits
| Description | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stop order placement | Buy stop: above current market; sell stop: below current market | Placed on the "bad" side where you do not want price to go |
| Execution after trigger | Becomes market order at next available price | No price guarantee; may execute above or below stop price |
Example Exam Questions
Test your understanding with these practice questions. Select an answer to see the explanation.
Rebecca owns 1,000 shares of XYZ stock, purchased at $60 per share. The stock is currently trading at $72, and she wants to protect her $12 per share gain while allowing for further upside. She is concerned about a potential market downturn but does not want to sell immediately. Which order type would best meet her objectives?
B is correct. A sell stop order at $70 (below the current $72 market price) would protect most of Rebecca's gains. If the stock falls to $70, the stop triggers and becomes a market order to sell, limiting her loss of the $12 gain to approximately $2 per share (selling near $70 instead of the $72 current price). This allows her to stay in the position if the stock continues rising while providing downside protection.
A is incorrect because buy stop orders are placed above the current market price and are used to protect short positions or enter on upward breakouts, not protect long positions. C (sell limit at $70) would only execute if the price rises to $70 or higher, but the stock is already at $72, so this order would not trigger on a decline and provides no downside protection. D (buy limit at $70) would attempt to buy more shares if the price falls, increasing her position rather than protecting it.
The Series 65 exam tests your ability to select appropriate order types for client objectives. Sell stop orders are the primary tool for protecting gains or limiting losses on long stock positions. Understanding stop order placement (sell stop BELOW market for long positions, buy stop ABOVE market for short positions) is critical for suitability recommendations.
What happens when a stop order is triggered at its specified stop price?
B is correct. When a stop order is triggered (when the stock trades at or through the stop price), it immediately becomes a market order and executes at the next available price. This means there is no guarantee the execution price will equal the stop price; it could be better or worse depending on market conditions.
A describes a stop-limit order, not a regular stop order. Stop-limit orders become limit orders (not market orders) after triggering, providing price protection. C is incorrect because triggered stop orders do not cancel; they execute as market orders. D is incorrect because stop orders do not guarantee execution at the stop price; they only guarantee the order will trigger at that price and then execute at whatever the next available market price is.
The Series 65 exam frequently tests the critical distinction between stop orders (become market orders) and stop-limit orders (become limit orders). Understanding that stop orders provide no price guarantee after triggering is essential for evaluating risk and setting proper client expectations. This lack of price certainty can result in significant slippage in volatile or illiquid markets.
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Access Free BetaA stock is currently trading at $38. An investor enters a sell stop order at $35. The following trades occur in sequence: $37.50, $36.00, $35.10, $35.00, $34.50, $34.80. At what price would the investor's sell stop order most likely execute?
B is correct. The sell stop order triggers when the stock trades at or through $35.00. Once triggered at the $35.00 trade, it becomes a market order and executes at the next available price, which is $34.50 in this sequence. The execution price is not guaranteed to be the stop price.
A is incorrect because stop orders do not guarantee execution at the exact stop price; they trigger at that price and then execute as market orders at the next available price. C ($34.80) occurs after the likely execution at $34.50. D is incorrect because the order does trigger when the stock trades at $35.00, then executes at the next trade ($34.50). The sell stop order successfully triggered and executed, just not at the stop price itself.
The Series 65 exam tests understanding of stop order execution mechanics. The two-step process (trigger, then execute as market order) is critical: the stop price triggers the order, but the execution price depends on the next available market price. In fast-moving or illiquid markets, significant slippage between the stop price and execution price can occur, which is an important risk consideration for client recommendations.
All of the following statements about stop orders are accurate EXCEPT
C is correct (the EXCEPT answer). This statement is FALSE. Stop orders do NOT guarantee execution at the specified stop price. The stop price only triggers the order; once triggered, the order becomes a market order that executes at the next available price, which may be significantly different from the stop price, especially in volatile or illiquid markets.
A is accurate: buy stop orders are always placed above the current market price and are used to protect short positions or enter on upward breakouts. B is accurate: sell stop orders (also called stop-loss orders) placed below the current market price are commonly used to protect gains or limit losses on long stock positions. D is accurate: the defining characteristic of stop orders is that they become market orders once the stop price is triggered, which distinguishes them from stop-limit orders.
The Series 65 exam tests understanding of stop order limitations. The critical concept is that stop orders provide no price guarantee after triggering, only a trigger mechanism. This lack of price certainty is a key risk that advisers must explain to clients. During the 2010 Flash Crash, many stop orders executed at prices far worse than their stop prices due to this market order conversion.
An investor is short 500 shares of ABC stock, which he sold at $45 per share. ABC is currently trading at $42, giving him an unrealized $3 per share gain. To protect against the stock rising and creating losses, he enters a buy stop order at $47. Which of the following statements are accurate?
1. The buy stop order is correctly placed above the current market price
2. If ABC trades at $47, the order will execute at exactly $47
3. The buy stop order protects the short position if the stock rises
4. If triggered at $47, the order becomes a market order
B is correct. Statements 1, 3, and 4 are accurate.
Statement 1 is TRUE: Buy stop orders must be placed above the current market price. Since ABC is trading at $42, placing the buy stop at $47 (above market) is correct. This is the "bad" side for a short seller (where he does not want the price to go).
Statement 2 is FALSE: Stop orders do NOT guarantee execution at the stop price. If ABC trades at $47, the order triggers and becomes a market order that executes at the next available price, which could be $47.10, $47.50, or any other price depending on market conditions. There is no price guarantee.
Statement 3 is TRUE: The buy stop at $47 limits the loss on the short position. If ABC rises to $47, the stop triggers and the investor buys back the shares (closing the short) at approximately $47, limiting his loss to about $2 per share ($47 buyback minus $45 short sale) instead of potentially unlimited losses if the stock continues rising.
Statement 4 is TRUE: All stop orders become market orders when triggered. This is the fundamental characteristic that distinguishes stop orders from stop-limit orders (which become limit orders).
The Series 65 exam tests comprehensive understanding of stop order mechanics in both long and short positions. Key concepts: buy stops protect short positions (placed above market), sell stops protect long positions (placed below market), stop orders become market orders (no price guarantee), and stop orders limit risk but do not guarantee specific execution prices. Understanding these mechanics is critical for advising clients on risk management strategies.
💡 Memory Aid
Think of stop orders as a tripwire: when the price "trips" the wire at your stop price, it triggers a market order that executes at the next available price. Buy stop = ABOVE market (protect shorts, catch breakouts). Sell stop = BELOW market (protect longs, limit losses). Stop orders are placed on the "bad" side where you do NOT want the price to go. Remember: Stop = becomes market order (no price guarantee after trigger).
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Where This Appears on the Exam
This term is tested in the following Series 65 exam topics: