How to buy Amazon fractional shares?

Written by
Gyula L.
Fact checked by
Tamás D.
Updated
Apr 2024

Investing in stocks can be intimidating, especially if you are a beginner and you want to buy relatively high-priced stocks like Amazon (AMZN). However, it is now possible for individual investors to buy a piece of the company even with a smaller initial investment, through what is called fractional shares.

In this article, we'll take a look at what Amazon fractional shares are and how to buy them, including the benefits and drawbacks of this investment strategy.

THE ESSENCE

  • Fractional shares are smaller portions of a full share, available at several brokerages
  • To buy a fractional share, just enter a number smaller than 1 (e.g. 0.34) in the order panel
  • Some advantages of fractional shares are affordability and diversification of your investments
  • Downsides include lower liquidity and lack of voting rights
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What is a fractional share and how can I buy them?

A fractional share is a portion of a share that is less than one, or in other words, not a round number of shares. So instead of buying 1 or 2 Amazon shares, you can buy e.g. 0.34 or 1.6 Amazon shares, and then you will own fractional shares. 

In the case of buying less than one share, instead of paying the full share price, you will only pay the portion of the share you bought, be it one-half, one-quarter, or only one-tenth of a share. For example, instead of buying 1 full share of Amazon for $100, you can buy 0.34 shares for $34.

To buy fractional shares at brokerages all you need to do usually is simply type the (less than 1) number of shares you wish to buy in the order panel. In the example above, you would write 0.34 instead of 1 in the field asking how many units (number of shares) you want to buy. See the image below for what it looks like in the eToro mobile app.

Order panel for buying Amazon fractional shares in the eToro mobile app

Amazon did a 20-to-1 stock split in 2022, as a result of which the value of its shares decreased from the previous ca. $2,800 to around $100 (as of January 2023). Even though this is a much lower price than before, it may still be too high for some small investors who only want to keep Amazon shares as part of a larger portfolio. In this case, fractional shares offer a good opportunity to buy even smaller amounts of the stock. 

Does Amazon have fractional shares?

Amazon itself does not offer fractional shares, there is only one kind of Amazon share (AMZN), which is traded on the stock exchange at market prices. However, some brokerage firms offer fractional share trading.

Fractional shares allow small investors to invest in high-priced stocks like Amazon. By buying a fraction of a share instead of a whole share, investors can still have a stake in the company without having to invest a large amount of money.

At which brokers can you buy Amazon fractional shares?

Here are some examples among the major global brokerages covered by BrokerChooser where you can invest in fractional Amazon shares:

 

You can also use our Compare Brokers tool to find the best broker for you to buy Amazon fractional shares. After selecting your country and "stock" as the product, you can check under each broker whether they offer fractional trading: you will find this under the "Markets and products" heading.

Fractional shares in BrokerChooser's Compare Brokers

While some brokerage firms allow buying fractional shares, they may have different fees and requirements. So it's always good to check how much it costs to buy fractional shares, and whether for example there is a minimum amount.

How to buy your first Amazon share

If this is your first stock trade ever, use our dedicated step-by-step guide to make the process of buying Amazon shares smooth and easy. We'll help you make your first investment in no time!

Is it worth buying Amazon fractional shares?

Whether or not it is worth buying Amazon fractional shares depends on your investment goals, risk tolerance and investment strategy.

Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to buy Amazon fractional shares:

  • Affordability: Fractional shares allow investors to buy a piece of a stock like Amazon without having to invest a large amount of money upfront. This can be especially helpful for small investors or beginners that are just starting to invest.
  • Diversification: Fractional shares can help diversify your portfolio by allowing you to buy a variety of stocks even with smaller amounts.
  • Risk management: Buying fractional shares also allows investors to manage their risk by not having to put all their money into one stock.
  • Research: Do your research on Amazon, as well as the brokerage firm that you are using to buy fractional shares from, to make sure you are making a well-informed decision.
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Is there a downside to fractional shares?

While buying fractional shares in Amazon can be a good entry to investing in the stock market, there can be a few drawbacks, including:

  • Liquidity: Fractional shares may be less liquid than full shares, meaning that it may be harder to buy or sell them quickly.
  • Lower returns: Fractional shares may not provide the same financial returns as buying a larger number of shares, as you will own a smaller piece of the company.
  • Higher costs: Buying fractional shares may also come with higher costs at some brokerage firms.
  • Lack of voting rights: Fractional shares do not have voting rights in the company's decisions, only full shares. This means if you have less than 1 share in a company, you will have no say in the company's decisions. If you own more than 1 share, as well as fractional shares, e.g. 34.6 shares in total, then you will have voting rights only for the 34 full shares, not for the remaining 0.6 share. 

 

Keep in mind that every investment comes with some level of risk, and buying fractional shares is no exception. It's always good to consult a financial expert and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.

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.

author
Gyula Lencsés, CFA
Author of this article
Gyula is a former analyst expert and Head of Content at BrokerChooser. With over a decade in finance, he led content creation at BrokerChooser and personally evaluated some of our 100+ listed brokers. He opened real-money accounts, executed transactions, and engaged with customer services, offering firsthand assessments. Prior to BrokerChooser, he managed mutual funds in wealth management, trading stocks, ETFs, bonds, commodities, forex, and derivatives. His goal: simplify the hunt for top brokers in a dynamic investment landscape.