How to Buy Google (GOOGL) Stock?

Google is not just a search engine. Its parent company, Alphabet, Inc., is one of the biggest tech companies globally. It sells online ads, cloud computing tools, and software. Google’s stock closed at $154.40 last time, it was down 0.3% from the day before. But in a year, it went up by 45.7%. Alphabet’s stock price got higher because the company is growing fast. In the last five years, GOOGL shares gained almost 18% every year, which is much more than what S&P 500 did. Want to invest in Google? Here’s what you need to know to buy its stock.

How to Buy Google Stock

1. Deciding Between GOOG and GOOGL: What’s the Difference?

Before you decide to buy Google stock, you should know there are two types: GOOGL and GOOG. The main difference is about voting rights. GOOGL lets shareholders vote on company stuff, while GOOG doesn’t give any voting rights.

There’s also another type called Class B, which gives more votes per share. But these are mostly owned by Google’s founders and ex-CEO, giving them more control.

GOOGL can cost a bit more than GOOG because of its voting rights. But since 2014, their prices have been similar. So, choosing between them means deciding if you want a say in Google’s decisions or not.

2. Open a Brokerage Account

To start investing, first need to open a brokerage account. You can do this with a brokerage firm or through an investment app. Look at our list of top online brokers and investment apps to find good options with low fees and minimum investments.

When picking a brokerage, think about what kind of account suits you. Planning for retirement? Go for an individual retirement account (IRA) for tax benefits. Want to grow wealth for short-term goals? Pick a taxable brokerage account instead.

3. Decide How Much to Invest at the Start

Before you put all your money into just one company, you need to think about how much and how you want to invest in Google. Here are some questions to help you decide how much to put in at the beginning.

How much money do you have to spend? If you don’t have enough money to cover your bills, save for when you’re not working, and have some extra for unexpected costs, it might not be the right time to buy Google stock. But if you’ve got all those things covered, you can use whatever money you have left to buy shares in Google.

How much does Google’s stock cost? Right now, both types of Google stock, GOOGL and GOOG, are priced at about $100 for each share as of early February 2023. But some places let you buy just a piece of a share, even for as little as $5. Not all places do this, though, so make sure yours does if you want to invest that way.

What’s your plan for investing? You might decide to put a big chunk of money in all at once, or you might want to buy a little bit at a time over a while. Doing that is called “dollar cost averaging,” and it can help you pay less on average for each share over time. But the most important thing is to get your money into the market as soon as you can. Remember: Having your money in the market for a long time is often more important than trying to figure out the perfect time to buy.

What other investments do you have? As an investor, you probably already have or will have a mix of different investments. That means your investment in Google will fit in with other things you own, like shares in other companies or maybe some bonds or funds. Think about how Google and the kind of company it is fit into your overall investment plan.

4. Review Google’s Performance

Before you buy GOOG or GOOGL stock, find out how Google is doing financially. Look at its money situation, risks, competition, and what it plans to do in the future.

Google, as a company you can buy stocks from, tells the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) how it’s doing every three months and every year. They do this with forms called Form 10-Q for quarterly reports and Form 10-K for yearly reports. You can see these papers on Google’s investor website or by searching the SEC’s database.

If you need help understanding all this stuff, you can check out what experts say about Google. You can find these analyses on websites like Morningstar and Forbes, or even on the website where you buy and sell stocks.

5. Order Stock

After you open an account and put money in it to invest, you can buy stock. To do this, you need to type in the company’s ticker symbol (GOOGL or GOOG) and either the amount of money you want to invest or the number of shares you want to buy.

Most brokers let you make market orders. This means you buy or sell shares at the current price. Alternatively, you can make a limit order. This means you set a specific price for buying and selling the stock.

Google’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq exchange. This means you can buy and sell shares between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET from Monday to Friday. Your brokerage might also allow trading before or after these hours.

6. Check Your Investment’s Performance

Even if you have Google stock, don’t just leave it be. Check on it now and then to make sure it’s helping you reach your goals.

Compare how Google is doing with the overall market. You can use a benchmark index, like the S&P 500, to see. Also, keep an eye on Google’s financials using the same documents you used for your initial research.

How to Sell Google Stock?

Here’s how to sell your Google stock:

• Log into your broker’s trading platform.
• Enter the ticker symbol and the number of shares or dollar amount you want to sell.
• If your stock has gone up a lot in value, talk to a tax professional before selling. They can help you plan how to pay less tax on your gains.

Final Thoughts

Google is a renowned company with a strong financial position. This makes Google a safer choice if you plan to invest for a long time. But remember, stocks can be risky, especially if you’re planning to invest for a short time. Before buying any stock, it’s important to do your own research. If you’re thinking about buying GOOGL or GOOG shares, first figure out your investment plan, budget, and how much risk you’re willing to take. If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to consult a financial advisor before you make your decision.