How to Buy Samsung Stock
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Samsung phones, TVs, laptops and appliances are easy to find and purchase right here in the USA.
Samsung stock, not so much: Because it’s a foreign company, American investors can't buy Samsung stock shares the way they typically buy stock — through major U.S. exchanges like the Nasdaq and NYSE.
How to buy Samsung stock
You can buy individual shares of Samsung stock either over-the-counter as a "pink sheet" stock — which means your purchase isn't regulated — or on the Korea Exchange (KRX), which entails opening a South Korean brokerage account.
There’s also a third way: You can buy Samsung stock through an exchange-traded fund.
» Learn more about how to buy international stocks
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Buying Samsung stock in an ETF
For U.S. investors, the easiest and most cost-efficient path to Samsung stock ownership is to buy shares in a South Korea-focused exchange-traded fund. Like a mutual fund, an ETF is a single investment that holds a variety pack of stocks that all share some common trait, such as industry type, market cap or country of origin.
There are a handful of ETFs that count Samsung among their major holdings. Even though Samsung is just one of many stocks held in an ETF, your exposure to the company may not be as watered down as you might think: In some ETFs that invest in South Korean companies, a single holding like Samsung can make up 20% or more of the fund’s total value.
5 steps to buying Samsung stock
If Samsung stock were as simple to purchase as, say, its archrival Apple, we’d simply point you this brief guide on how to buy a stock and call it a day.
But there are a few nuanced differences between buying Apple stock and buying Samsung stock — or rather, exposure to Samsung stock.
1. Understand the differences between an ETF and a stock
Although ETFs trade just like stocks via individual shares, their mutual fund-like traits require taking a slightly different approach to analyzing whether they should have a place in your portfolio.
Because the holdings are curated, there is a management fee, which is called an expense ratio, to consider and compare to the competition. Also, take a look at the ETF’s holdings to be sure that the investments adhere to your investment objective. In this case, check that the Korea-focused ETF you choose has a meaningful weighting in Samsung stock. Here’s more on how ETFs work.
A lot of this research is easy to do via your brokerage's website, which brings us to the next step …
2. Pick an investment account
If you don’t already have a brokerage account, you’ll need to open one. Although ETFs are standard fare among online discount brokers, the specific ETFs offered will vary by provider. It's also worthwhile to check that a broker carries or provides access to the ETFs you want.
» View our list: The best-performing stocks
3. Decide how many shares to purchase
At first blush this may seem like a budget-driven decision based on share price and how much cash you have to purchase a stock or ETF. But it’s actually more about your investment strategy, specifically how much exposure to any single type of investment you’re comfortable having in your portfolio.
Although ETFs are inherently diversified due to the number of holdings, a narrow investment focus — such as one that concentrates solely on large and medium-sized Korean technology companies — can make for a niche portfolio play. Be careful not to overexpose yourself to this or any other single, concentrated space.
4. Place your order
When you’re ready to place your order, you’ll be asked to choose an order type. Your answer determines when and how your order is executed.
A market order places your trade right away by purchasing shares at the best available price that moment.
A limit order places your trade when the stock (or ETF) hits the price level you’ve set.
Although it's not typically recommended for the majority of investors, if you decide to tread into the world of OTC trading, a limit order will help manage your exposure to pricing disparities due to share supply and demand.
5. Keep an eye on your investment
Even though Samsung stock is not easy to buy in the U.S., news about the company is in ample supply. Because of the company’s high-profile, publicly traded competitors, there’s a steady stream of headlines and analyst reports that refer to Samsung and the various industries in which it operates.
The deluge of news can be overwhelming, but don’t let it drive you to make knee-jerk investment decisions.
If you own an ETF with Samsung as just one of its holdings, you’re somewhat protected from the sharp ups and downs of any individual stock within that bundle. Still, it never hurts to keep an eye out in case trouble hits that sector or nation as a whole.
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