What is a stop-limit order?

A stop-limit order combines the features of both a limit and a stop order. A limit order is an order to buy or sell a certain security for a specific price. 1 One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot set a plain limit order to buy a stock above the market price because a better price is already available.

What is the difference between a stop price and a limit order?

In a regular stop order, if the price triggers the stop, a market order will be entered. If the order is a stop-limit, then a limit order will be placed conditional on the stop price being triggered. Thus, a stop-limit order will require both a stop price and a limit price, which may or may not be the same.

How to buy AAPL with a stop-limit order?

The investor has put in a stop-limit order to buy with the stop price at $160 and the limit price at $165. If the price of AAPL moves above the $160 stop price, then the order is activated and turns into a limit order. As long as the order can be filled under $165, which is the limit price, the trade will be filled.

Does a stop-limit order guarantee a trade will be executed?

A stop-limit order does not guarantee that the trade will be executed, because the price may never beat the limit price. If the limit order is attained for a short duration, it may not be executed when there are other orders in the queue that utilize all stocks available at the current price.