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Investing in shares may seem like a daunting prospect – especially if you are a complete newcomer to the financial markets. Yet these days it’s getting easier and easier to buy shares from the comfort of your own home, with the whole process usually only taking minutes to complete!
This guide will show you how to buy shares in Ireland, covering what shares are and the basics of investing. We’ll also discuss the top brokers to buy shares with in Ireland and show you how to invest in shares today – with 0% commissions!
The process to buy shares isn’t as tricky as you might imagine, as most online trading platforms are designed with beginners in mind. These days options are abundant when choosing a broker, so it’s vital to do your research and ensure the one you choose is suitable for your experience level.
However, we recommend using eToro if you’re looking to buy shares in Ireland due to their 0% commission fee structure and user-friendly interface. With that in mind, the four quick steps below will show you how to begin investing in shares in Ireland – all in less than ten minutes!
1. Open an eToro Account
Head over to eToro’s website and click the ‘Join Now’ button. You’ll then be prompted to enter your email address and choose a username and a password to create your account.
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
2. Verify your Identity
As eToro are one of the safest FCA brokers UK, new users will have to verify themselves before being able to trade. To do so, click the ‘Complete Profile’ button on your dashboard and enter the required details for the KYC checks. You’ll also have to upload proof of ID (copy of your passport or driver’s license) and proof of address (copy of a bank statement or utility bill) to verify your account.
3. Make a Deposit
You’ll need to make a deposit of $50 (€43) as a new eToro user before you can begin buying shares. If this deposit is made in USD, then there is no fee; however, if it is made in any other currency, there will be a small 0.5% currency conversion fee. In terms of deposit methods, eToro accepts the following:
Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer
Rapid transfer
PayPal
Skrill
Neteller
Trustly
4. Buy Shares
Click into the search bar at the top of the screen and type in the name or ticker symbol of the company you’d like to invest in e.g. Tesla. When it appears in the drop down menu, click ‘Trade’ and an order box should appear. In this box, enter your desired position size, check everything is correct, and click ‘Open Trade’.
And that’s it! You’ve just invested in shares in Ireland with eToro – totally commission-free!
Learn the Basics of Buying Shares in Ireland
If you’re looking to invest in stocks, it’s wise to do some research beforehand and understand how the financial markets work and what shares are. Share trading can seem tricky to understand at first, but once you’ve got to grips with it, it can become a very lucrative process. With that in mind, let’s discuss some of the main things to consider before buying shares.
What are stocks and shares?
As defined by Forbes, shares are units of ownership in a company. The terms ‘shares’ and ‘stocks’ are interchangeable and refer to the same thing, which can be confusing for beginner investors. Companies that offer shares tend to do so to raise capital – people or financial institutions will buy these shares, with the money going right to the company.
In return, shareholders receive ownership of the company. For example, if a company had 10,000 shares and you bought 100 of them, then you’d own 1% of the company. Furthermore, the share price will appreciate or depreciate, depending on the company’s performance and broader market conditions. So, if you bought a share at $100 and the price rose to $200, you could sell it for a 100% return!
Finally, a company may opt to pay a dividend to its shareholders, which is when it disburses some of its profits as a ‘reward’ for owning shares. The amount given to shareholders will depend on the company and is decided by the board of directors. So, by owning shares in a dividend-paying firm, you’ll be able to benefit from share price appreciation and regular dividend payments!
Available stocks to buy in Ireland?
So, what are the best shares to buy now in Ireland? Well, thanks to modern technology, Irish traders can invest in shares from all over the world using an online broker such as eToro. Publicly-traded shares are listed on a stock exchange, such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE) or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). As such, these shares are easily accessible using a stock trading platform.
Furthermore, you’ll also be able to invest in shares from companies that operate in a wide range of sectors. Popular sectors include the technology, real estate, banking, and automobile sectors, as these contain some of the most exciting companies in the world right now. Overall, by using a reputable online trading platform, you’ll be able to invest in hundreds of top shares from the comfort of your own home, making it easy to benefit from lucrative investment opportunities.
Index Funds and ETFs
If you are unsure which stocks to invest in, you could even consider investing in an index fund or an ETF. These are types of securities that track a stock market index, sector, commodity, or another asset, allowing investors to gain exposure to the underlying asset without constructing a complicated portfolio. ETFs are particularly inviting for beginner investors, as these funds are traded on stock exchanges (like regular stocks) and have their own share price.
Index funds are similar and try to mimic the performance of a stock market index, such as the S&P 500 or the FTSE 100. Thus, by investing in one of these funds, you’re essentially gaining exposure to hundreds of equities at once. Due to the power of diversification, these funds are much lower risk than investing in one or two equities and provide the opportunity to make consistent (but lower) returns.
How to Make Money through Buying Stocks in Ireland?
If you’re looking to invest $1000 (or any other amount) in shares, you’re certainly going to want to make some sort of return. Trading shares can be a great way of generating income – although there is always the risk that you’ll lose money. So, by understanding the risk and researching your investment beforehand, you’ll put yourself in an excellent position to benefit from share price movements.
Capital gains
The primary way that people make money through buying shares is capital gains. Capital gains refer to the profits you’d make if the price of your share went up during the period that you hold it. For example, if you bought a share when it was priced at $100, and it increased to $200, then you’d realise some capital gains when you sold it.
Notably, Irish traders must pay capital gains tax on the profits they make from share trading. The standard rate of capital gains tax is 33%, although this can differ in certain situations, so make sure to look into this beforehand. Essentially, this means that if you made €1000 profit from share trading, you’d have to pay around €333 of this as tax.
Dividends
Another way that people make money through buying shares is dividends. Many of the best investments UK are companies that distribute dividend payments to investors regularly, as this provides an additional passive income stream. As noted earlier, dividends are a portion of a company’s profits paid out to shareholders as a ‘thank you’ for investing in the company.
The exact amount that shareholders receive will depend on how many shares they own and the company’s dividend per share. The dividend yield is the ratio of the dividends per share over the company’s price per share and gives an idea of the dividend-only return offered by owning shares. Ideally, you’ll want to invest in companies with higher yields if you are looking to generate a noticeable passive income stream.
Tips to Consider Before Buying a Company’s Shares
Whether you’re looking to buy Amazon stock (or any other company’s stock), there are a few things to keep in mind before proceeding with your investment. Found below are some of the main things to research when buying shares in Ireland:
Diversification
Diversification may seem like a complicated concept at first, but in fact, it’s relatively easy to understand. Diversification is the process of investing in a variety of different assets to lower the overall risk of your portfolio. If you were to invest in one single stock, you’d have massive levels of exposure to that stock, which can be dangerous if the stock price goes down.
However, if you invested in a range of stocks, the impact that one stock going down would have on your entire portfolio is much less. This is the theory behind diversification, which enables investors to construct less risky portfolios and provide the opportunity to generate consistent returns. The most common ways investors will diversify is through different industries, geographical locations, and company size.
Fees and Commissions
We’ll touch on this more later in the article, but it’s also essential to consider the fees associated with investing in shares. When you buy shares in Ireland, you’ll have to create an account with an online stock broker to facilitate your investment. Each stock broker will have its own fee structure, so it’s a good idea to look for the one with the lowest fees.
Commissions are the primary fee type to look out for, as these are charged as a percentage of your position size. However, there are other fees to consider, such as deposit fees, withdrawal fees, and inactivity fees. These charges can add up, especially if you are an active investor, so it’s wise to review these before choosing a trading platform.
Financials
If you are interested in investing in a company, it’s crucial to examine its financials. These are often presented within the company’s financial statements, which highlight the company’s overall performance. Financial statements include the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, with all three combining to provide investors with an overview of how the company is doing.
Common sense would dictate that you’ll want to invest in a company that is performing well financially. Key things to look out for include the company’s revenues, net income, and cash flow. Furthermore, you’ll also want to review the company’s debt level and earnings per share (EPS), as these can help inform whether the company’s share price may go up in the future.
Market News
Finally, it’s also important to consider any news that might affect a company’s share price. This news could be directly related to the company or could be broader in scope, e.g. news of a recession. Negative news will often cause investors to sell their shares, which causes the price to fall due to the laws of supply and demand.
Much like when you buy cryptocurrency, ‘hype’ can also affect a company’s share price. For example, if you think back to the Gamestop scenario in early 2021, the hype driven by Reddit helped push Gamestop’s share price to incredible heights. Although the price eventually fell back down, this highlighted the power that social media communities have in the market these days.
How to Select an Irish Broker to Buy Stocks
When choosing between the best trading platforms, it can seem tricky to know which one is best for you to create an account with. There are many options to choose from, so it’s essential to figure out which one suits your unique investment goals. Found below are some of the main criteria to consider when selecting an Irish stock broker:
Safety
Top of your list should be safety. As you will be trusting your broker with your own money, it’s vital to choose one with a strong track record and a safe reputation. Ideally, you’ll want to partner with a broker regulated by institutions such as the FCA, ASIC, or CySEC, as these ensure the broker has to abide by strict security protocols.
Furthermore, the broker’s reputation is also worth considering. The more users the broker has, the more credible its services will likely be. Finally, steer clear of unlicensed and unregulated brokers, as these platforms will not offer any investor protection, which means your capital is at risk.
Payment Methods
The payment methods accepted by the broker is another area to consider. Many people wish to buy stocks with PayPal due to its safety and ease of use. Luckily, many online brokers (such as eToro) accept PayPal as a deposit method – and even allow users to withdraw their profits back to PayPal!
Furthermore, most brokers will allow Irish traders to fund their accounts via credit/debit card, bank transfer, or e-wallet. However, some brokers may charge a fee for using specific methods, so be sure to double-check this beforehand.
Tradeable Assets
The type of assets offered by the broker is another thing worth considering. If you are looking to buy shares in Ireland, you’ll likely want to partner with a broker that has a massive selection of tradeable assets. eToro is excellent for this, as they offer 800 different stocks to invest in from the comfort of your own home. Due to this, there will always be an exciting investment opportunity for investors to consider.
User-Friendliness
Finally, the user-friendliness of the broker’s platform is crucial to consider – especially if you are a beginner. These days, most brokers will ensure their platform caters to newcomers by avoiding technical jargon and making the interface easy to navigate. Some brokers even offer a free demo account that users can utilise, providing the ability to gain experience in the market without having to use real money. You may also wish to use a broker that offers educational materials, ensuring you’re well prepared before investing.
Best Brokers to Buy Stocks Ireland
So, now that you have an idea of how stocks work and how you can make money by investing in them, let’s discuss the best brokers in Ireland. Many CFD brokers and investment platforms offer shares to Irish traders, so it can be a tricky task to sort through them all and decide which is best for you.
However, we’ve done the research and narrowed down the selection to our top three Irish brokers. Read on to learn more about each of these brokers and what they can offer you.
1. eToro – Overall Best Broker to Buy Stocks in Ireland
Our number one broker when it comes to buying stocks in Ireland is eToro. eToro has a stellar reputation worldwide as a safe and reliable broker, with over 23 million registered users at the time of writing. What’s more, eToro is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring that all users are afforded the highest levels of protection when using the platform.
One of eToro’s best features is its 0% commission structure. This means that you do not have to pay a transaction fee when placing a trade, which contrasts with many other trading platforms. Instead, eToro’s fee is included in the spread, which is the difference between the bid and the ask price on an asset. This spread is typically very tight for the most popular shares, although it can change depending on market conditions.
In terms of deposits, eToro accepts credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets, such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. Deposits are free to make if you fund your account in USD; however, if you were to fund it in another currency (such as GBP or EUR), you’ll have to pay a 0.5% currency conversion fee. The minimum deposit is only $50 (€43), which is ideal for beginner traders.
Finally, eToro offers a variety of valuable features, most notably their CopyTrader feature. This allows users to automatically copy the trades placed by other users – thereby generating a passive income stream. Some of the top traders on eToro regularly produce market-beating returns, so this feature is ideal for newcomers who wish to make a return whilst still learning the market.
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
2. Capital.com – Buy Stocks in Ireland with 0% Commissions
If you are looking for an alternative to eToro, we’d also recommend Capital.com. Capital.com has been around since 2016 and is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and NBRB. Regulation from these four entities ensures that Capital.com users are safe whilst trading and offers the highest level of security for their capital and personal information.
Much like eToro, Capital.com doesn’t charge any commissions and instead uses a spread-based fee structure. Capital.com’s spreads are often tighter than other platforms – and they even offer some of the fastest execution speeds on the market. The average execution speed at Capital.com is 0.022 seconds, which ensures that traders get the best rates possible when buying shares.
Capital.com offers over 3800 tradeable securities, including stocks, commodities, currencies, and cryptocurrencies. Notably, Capital.com offers non-CFD stock trading, which allows you to purchase the underlying stock rather than a contract based on the stock’s price. Again, there is 0% commission when doing this. Moreover, Capital.com doesn’t charge any deposit fees, withdrawal fees, inactivity fees, or monthly account fees.
Finally, the minimum deposit at Capital.com is only $20 (€17.29) – although this does raise to $250 (€216) if you fund your account via bank transfer. Irish residents can fund their accounts in Euros, meaning there is no currency conversion fee. Finally, if you fund your account via credit/debit card, the funds will arrive instantly, which is ideal if you wish to start share dealing right away.
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
3. AvaTrade – Best Broker to Buy Stocks in Ireland with Leverage
Another of the best Irish brokers is AvaTrade. AvaTrade has over 200,000 registered users worldwide and completes a trading volume of around £60bn per month. What’s more, AvaTrade is ideal for Irish traders as the platform is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, providing a massive level of credibility.
AvaTrade offers 0% commission stock trading and incorporates their fee into the spread. The spread is around 0.13% for the most-traded shares, although it can be a little higher for companies with less liquidity. One of AvaTrade’s best features is that users can employ leverage to boost their potential profits. Leverage is capped at 30:1 if your account is held in the European Union – although this still offers the chance to increase profits by up to 30x!
AvaTrade doesn’t charge any monthly account fees, deposit fees, or withdrawal fees, although users must pay an inactivity fee. This fee equates to $50 (€43) after three months of inactivity and rises to $100 (€86) after one year of inactivity. Furthermore, the minimum deposit amount at AvaTrade is $100, which can be made via credit/debit card, bank transfer, and e-wallet.
Finally, AvaTrade’s trading platform is exceptionally user-friendly and can be accessed on the web, desktop, or smartphone. AvaTrade even offers MT4 and MT5 support, which is ideal for people interested in forex trading. Notably, AvaTrade provides a vast amount of educational resources through its website and trading platform. This ensures that newcomers to the financial markets are as prepared as possible before buying shares.
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Fees Comparison for Best Brokers to Buy Stocks in Ireland
To help streamline the decision-making process even further, found below is an overview of the main fees to look out for with each of the previously mentioned brokers:
Broker
Fee Type?
Cost to Buy Amazon Shares
Overnight Fees?
eToro
0% commission + Spread
0.09% spread
Only on CFDs; varies
Capital.com
0% commission + Spread
1.9 pips spread
Only on CFDs; varies
AvaTrade
0% commission + Spread
0.13% spread
Yes; varies by asset
Pros and Cons of Buying Shares in Ireland
Before we round off this guide on how to buy shares in Ireland, let’s discuss some of the main pros and cons to keep in mind when investing:
Pros
Potential Returns – The great thing about stock trading is that you can make a return on your money from the comfort of your own home. It’s not uncommon for stocks to go up by 20% or more in the space of a year, which is much higher than the return you’d get in a savings account.
Passive Income Stream – By investing in dividend-paying stocks, you’ll be able to generate a consistent passive income stream. What’s more, companies who do well tend to increase their dividends, which can help you earn even more money without doing anything!
Easy to Buy Shares – Due to the technology we have at our fingertips today, it’s easy to trade shares from your computer or your smartphone. Furthermore, most brokers will allow you to invest with a minimal amount, which is ideal for people looking to start small and build their way up.
Wide Range of Investment Opportunities – The size of the stock market means that there is a vast range of potential securities to invest in. Thus, there will always be an excellent opportunity to generate a positive return, thanks to the extensive possibilities.
Cons
Risk of Losing Money – Obviously, due to the nature of stock trading, there is a chance that you will make a loss. To combat this, it’s crucial never to invest more than you are willing to lose.
Emotions – It’s easy to say that you won’t get emotionally attached to a position – yet this is hard to put into practice! Stock trading can cause a range of emotions due to price fluctuations, which leads to stress and worry.
Changes in Dividends – Although dividends can be increased, they can also be decreased. As such, if you are a passive income investor, you may see less income if the companies you have invested in reduce their dividend payout.
How to Buy Stocks in Ireland – Conclusion
To summarise, this guide has covered everything you need to know about how to buy shares in Ireland, covering the basics of stock trading and the best stock brokers on the market. As you’ll now be aware, buying shares in Ireland isn’t as complicated as you may have thought. By following this guide, you’ll be able to begin trading stocks right away, as safely and cost-effectively as possible!
So, if you’d like to buy shares in Ireland today, we’d recommend using eToro as your broker. eToro offers 0% commissions when you buy stocks and allows investments from only $50 (€43) per trade. What’s more, as eToro is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, you’ll be able to trade as safely as possible!
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
FAQs
How do I buy stocks in Ireland?
To buy stocks in Ireland, you’ll have to open an account with a licensed and regulated broker. These brokers pair buyers and sellers together, allowing seamless trading of the stock market.
Can I buy shares in companies outside of Ireland?
Yes! The majority of online brokers will offer a huge range of tradeable stocks, from a wide variety of stock exchanges. For example, eToro allows Irish traders to invest in stocks from the LSE, NYSE, and many other major exchanges.
Is it expensive to buy shares in Ireland?
The cost of buying shares in Ireland will depend on which broker you decide to partner with. We’d recommend using a 0% commission broker such as eToro, as this will allow you to trade as cost-effectively as possible.
What payment methods are accepted when buying shares?
This will depend on the broker, but most platforms accept credit/debit card, bank transfer, and e-wallets. Some brokers (such as eToro) will even support PayPal and Neteller, making it easy to fund your account.
Is it safe to buy shares in Ireland?
The safest way to buy shares in Ireland is to partner with a broker that is regulated by some top-tier entities. Ideally you’d want to go with a broker regulated by the FCA, ASIC, or CySEC (or all three), as these entities ensure the broker must abide by the strictest safety protocols to protect users.
About Connor Brooke PRO INVESTOR
Connor is a Scottish financial expert, specialising in wealth management and equity investing. Based in Glasgow, Connor writes full-time for a wide selection of financial websites, whilst also providing startup consulting to small businesses. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and a Master’s degree in Investment Fund Management, Connor has extensive knowledge in the investing space, and has also written two theses on mutual funds and the UK market.
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