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Stock index options at Qtrade Direct Investing

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Fact checked by
Tamás D.
Updated
Sep 2024
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Can you trade stock index options at Qtrade Direct Investing?

Considering trading stock index options at Qtrade Direct Investing? Let's see whether they offer this service, what fees you'll face, and if this broker is the best fit for you to trade options.

Yes, you can trade stock index options at Qtrade Direct Investing, but its fees are on the higher end, and combined with our overall assessment, it's probably not the best fit for you to trade options. Select instead from some great choices on our best options trading brokers list.

Qtrade Direct Investing is not your best bet for trading stock index options
András
András Régely
Investments • Stock Market • Market Analysis

I've reviewed dozens of options brokers and made hundreds of options trades to size up whether they're the optimal platform for trading stock index options. My overall verdict is that Qtrade Direct Investing is not your best choice:

  • You can trade stock index options at Qtrade Direct Investing.
  • Qtrade Direct Investing charges high fees for trading stock index options.
  • Its unimpressive options-related services also lag behind the competition.
  • For better alternatives, see the top brokers for options trading.

Before we begin, let's see if Qtrade Direct Investing is available in your country

No, you can't open an account at Qtrade Direct Investing if you live in the United States!
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United States

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Overall score
4/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Stock fee
Average
Options fee
High
Inactivity fee
yes
Account opening
1-3 days
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Yes, you can trade stock index options at Qtrade Direct Investing

Options trading is increasingly popular, but it's still something of a niche product aimed at more experienced traders, so not all brokers offer it and trading conditions can differ widely.

Options trading is all about buying and selling contracts that give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specific price before a certain date. The asset can be a stock, a stock index, a foreign currency, or even a commodity like oil.

In this article, we concentrate on stock index options - which are available at Qtrade Direct Investing, on a total of 2 options exchanges. You can trade the stock index options for the following countries (additional ones may be available as well):

  • US stock index options
Imagine stock index options like placing a bet on the overall market's future direction, rather than on a single stock. Think of it like predicting whether the S&P 500 will rise or fall. You buy an option that gives you the right to trade that index at today's level, no matter where it goes later. If you're right and the market moves in your favor, you profit. If not, you only lose the cost of the option. It's a bit like betting on the weather - predicting sunny skies ahead and locking in your beach plans before the crowd rushes in!

Qtrade Direct Investing gives access to all CAD & US listed exchange traded options including weekly, monthy, quarterly and LEAPS (long-term).

Stock index options fees are high at Qtrade Direct Investing

Trading stock index options involves either buying or selling contracts based on a market index. When you buy a stock index option, you're paying for the opportunity to make a move on the index at a future date, without locking yourself in immediately. When you sell a stock index option, you're giving someone else that opportunity, and you collect the premium they pay for that right.

Now, let's talk fees. Every options trade comes with its own set of costs. Typically, you're looking at a base, or minimum fee per trade, plus a fee per contract. Some brokers may also cap the amount you have to pay at a certain maximum. For example, you might pay a $5 base fee for each trade, plus a $0.65 per contract fee.

Overall, Qtrade Direct Investing has high fees for trading stock index options. You can see the conditions in the table below.
Stock index options fees at Qtrade Direct Investing
Stock index option type Benchmark fee Fee description
US stock index options $21.3 $8.75 flat fee and $1.25 per contract, but the flat fee is $6.95 if you trade 150+ per quarter or have at least $500k account balance
UK stock index options - Not available
German stock index options - Not available
So what's all the fuss about fees? They may seem like a tiny fraction of a trade's value, but the differences among brokers can be significant. Among the 100+ brokers we cover, fees range from $0 to $40 for trading 10 US stock index options contracts. Even for casual traders, these differences can add up to hundreds of dollars a year. Just think of what else you could buy with that money!

It charges a flat fee of $8.75 plus a variable fee of $1.25 per contract. The flat fee drops to $6.95 if you make more than 150 trades per quarter (any trades, not just options) or have an account balance of at least $500,000.

Compare Qtrade Direct Investing with its competitors

To compare fees at various brokers, we calculated a benchmark fee for trading different options products. Note that some brokers don't charge a separate fee for closing an options trade - in these cases, we calculated with just half of the opening fee, as most other brokers charge for both opening and closing transactions.

You can also see an overall options fee score, which shows (on a scale of 0 to 5), how favorable the broker's fees are, with 5 being the maximum score (lowest fees).

Check in the chart below how Qtrade Direct Investing compares to similar brokers in terms of its options trading fees!

US stock index options
Estimated commission for 10 contracts

Qtrade Direct Investing is not your best choice for trading options

To assess whether Qtrade Direct Investing is a great place to trade options, we took into account several factors beyond merely what you have to pay in trading fees, as that is only part of the story when it comes to options trading. Here's what we checked:

  • the number of options exchanges you can access

  • the quality of the broker's trading platform (including charting and other research tools)

  • the withdrawal fees you pay when you want to access the profits of your trading activity

  • your available options for withdrawal methods

In the chart and table below, you can check how Qtrade Direct Investing compares to some close competitors along these lines, and why we say that it is not an ideal broker for trading options. Scores are on a scale of 0 (worst) to 5 (best).

Options exchanges (#)
The number of options exchanges you can access via the broker
Broker
Charting quality
Qtrade Direct Investing
Poor
RBC Direct Investing
Mid-range
Questrade
Great
Options-related services at Qtrade Direct Investing vs selected competitors
Data updated on September 18, 2024

See the top brokers for trading options

Looking for the best of the best? Check out our toplist of the best brokers for trading options.

We've rounded up the cream of the crop to help you find a broker that suits your needs perfectly. Whether you're looking for the best overall options brokers, the best options platforms in the US, or brokers tailored for beginners, we've got you covered.

Still missing something? Our knowledgeable AI assistant Nuri is here to answer all your options-related needs.

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If you have any questions, Nuri AI can help you!

Check out this short video for a behind-the-scenes peek into how our experts personally test and evaluate brokers.

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Further reading

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.

András Régely
Author of this article
As a Broker Analyst at BrokerChooser, I'm dedicated to providing data-driven insights that simplify the world of investments. With a solid academic background, including an MSc in Accounting and Finance from LSE, I bring a deep understanding of financial markets to my role. My mission is to assist retail investors in finding the perfect broker fit by leveraging my trading experience and analytical skills. At BrokerChooser, I merge my passion for trading with a keen eye for market trends, helping clients navigate online brokers confidently and effectively.
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