Are penny stocks a waste of time?
Penny stocks are among the market's most dangerous stocks, so you may pay a much greater price than you first expect, including potentially losing all of your investment. Here's what a penny stock is and why it's so risky to investors looking to grow their wealth.
At best, penny stock companies are unproven and small, with dubious long-term prospects for success; at worst, the penny stocks are vehicles that con artists use to take advantage of unsuspecting investors. Many penny stocks are traded so cheaply because the businesses behind them aren't worth much more than that.
Investing $1 a day not only allows you to start taking advantage of compound interest. It also helps you to get comfortable with investing and develop the habit of putting your money to work for you. As you can see, that single dollar can make a huge difference in helping you to become more financially secure.
Success rates are low, with many companies going bankrupt. Investors should consider selling penny stocks when they achieve their target gains or if the company's fundamentals deteriorate. Additionally, setting stop-loss orders to limit potential losses is prudent.
In a best-case scenario, a penny stock has likely significantly underperformed the expectations of company management or it wouldn't be trading at such a low share price in the first place. These types of companies can always rebound, but an underperforming company isn't an ideal investment.
I largely agree with this idea, but there are some millionaire-maker penny stocks that are worth holding for few years. If these stocks fire, the health of the portfolio can change within a few quarters. Of course, the risk of exposure to penny stocks is always high.
High risk of loss: Penny stocks are inherently risky. Due to their low liquidity and small market capitalisation, they are susceptible to price manipulation, fraud, and sudden declines. Investors may experience substantial losses, and some penny stocks may even become worthless.
Investing just $100 a month can actually do a whole lot to help you grow rich over time. In fact, the table below shows how much your $100 monthly investment could turn into over time, assuming you earn a 10% average annual return.
Investing a measly $100 per week can turn into a nest egg topping $1.1M by retirement — but you need to start at age 25.
It may not seem like a lot, but don't underestimate the power of $1,000. Even a small starting investment can help lay the foundation for a long and profitable journey toward financial flexibility. Put that money to work and add to it as often as possible with your long-term goals in mind.
Was Amazon once a penny stock?
Some companies, such as Amazon (AMZN) originated as penny stocks but later grew into sizable blue-chip companies.
Creative Realities (NASDAQ:CREX) is another explosive penny stock with intriguing upside as its digital signage solutions gain traction across verticals like retail, healthcare and auto showrooms. This microcap shed 54% from July 2023 before rebounding 154% into 2024 on strengthening fundamentals.
Just like mid and large cap stocks, there is no limit to how high a penny stock can go. Many massive, well-established companies were once trading for less than $5 per share.
(NASDAQ: AAPL). Apple wasn't always one of the largest tech companies in the world. In fact, hardly anyone knew about the company and its products for years. Back in the early 2000s, AAPL traded for under 80 cents per share — a legit penny stock.
According to a study by the SEC, only about 10% of penny stocks succeed in the long term. This means that a large majority of penny stocks do not perform well and may lead to significant losses for investors.
When a stock's price falls to zero, a shareholder's holdings in this stock become worthless. Major stock exchanges actually delist shares once they fall below specific price values.
| Ticker | Name |
|---|---|
| CLVR | Clever Leaves Holdings |
| LFLY | Leafly Holdings, Inc. |
| ACB | Aurora Cannabis |
| BW | Babco*ck & Wilcox Company |
Lack of liquidity: Penny stocks are often illiquid, meaning it can be difficult to buy or sell your shares quickly without impacting the price. Unprofitable: Many penny stocks represent a stake in a company that has not and will not generate earnings for its shareholders.
Although there is nothing inherently wrong with low-priced stocks, they are considered speculative, high-risk investments because they experience higher volatility and lower liquidity.
Penny stocks are a huge gamble. A casino might have better odds. Despite the short-term potential for gains, stick to a sustainably profitable approach by buying shares in proven companies with strong track records.
How many penny stocks should I buy?
Some professionals recommend that you devote no more than 10% of your individual stock holdings to penny stocks. It's also important to understand your risk tolerance. Generally speaking, the higher your risk tolerance, the more equipped you are to take on the risk that can come with investing in penny stocks.
You plan to invest $100 per month for five years and expect a 6% return. In this case, you would contribute $6,000 over your investment timeline. At the end of the term, your portfolio would be worth $6,949. With that, your portfolio would earn around $950 in returns during your five years of contributions.
Investing $100 per month, with an average return rate of 10%, will yield $200,000 after 30 years. Due to compound interest, your investment will yield $535,000 after 40 years. These numbers can grow exponentially with an extra $100. If you make a monthly investment of $200, your 30-year yield will be close to $400,000.
$100 a month invested from age 25 to 65 is $1,176,000. You do NOT have to retire broke.
Key Points. The U.S. stock market has created trillions of dollars in wealth. Investing in an S&P 500 index fund is a great way to take advantage of the stock market. Investing $500 a month can make you a millionaire over time.
