You've made a great decision to take control of your investments with Webull! Selling shares, whether to lock in profits, cut losses, or rebalance your portfolio, is a fundamental part of managing your financial future. While Webull makes the process quite intuitive, understanding each step ensures you execute your trades precisely.
Let's dive into a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to sell specific shares on Webull, making sure you feel confident and in command of your investments.
How to Sell Specific Shares on Webull: A Comprehensive Guide
Ready to sell some shares? Let's get started!
Step 1: Accessing Your Account and Positions – Where Are Your Shares?
First things first, you need to get to your portfolio on Webull. This is where you'll see all the investments you currently hold.
On the Mobile App:
Open the Webull app on your smartphone or tablet.
Log in using your credentials (fingerprint, face ID, or password).
Once logged in, you'll usually land on your "Markets" or "Watchlist" tab. Look for the Webull logo/Home button at the bottom of the screen (it often looks like a bull or a house icon). Tap it.
This will take you to your "Account" tab, where you'll see a summary of your portfolio.
Within the "Account" tab, look for the "Positions" section. This is where all your held stocks and ETFs are listed. Scroll through if you have many holdings to find the specific stock you wish to sell.
On the Desktop Platform (Webull Desktop/Webull Web):
Open the Webull Desktop application on your computer or navigate to the Webull website in your browser.
Log in to your account.
On the desktop platform, your portfolio information is typically more prominent. Look for the "Account" or "Portfolio" section, usually located on the left-hand sidebar or at the top of the screen.
Under your account summary, you'll find a detailed list of your "Positions." Locate the stock you intend to sell.
Engaging Question: Do you already have a specific stock in mind that you want to sell, or are you still Browse your portfolio to decide? Let me know, and we can tailor the next steps to your specific situation!
Step 2: Initiating the Sell Order – Preparing to Part Ways
Once you've identified the specific stock you want to sell, it's time to initiate the sell order.
From the "Positions" Tab:
Mobile App: Tap directly on the specific stock you want to sell from your "Positions" list. This will open the detailed quote page for that stock.
Desktop Platform: Click on the specific stock you want to sell from your "Positions" list. This will also take you to its detailed quote page.
On the Stock's Detail Page:
Once you're on the stock's detail page, look for the "Trade" button. This is usually a prominent button, often colored red or green, at the bottom of the mobile screen or in a dedicated trading panel on the desktop.
Tap or click "Trade."
You'll then be presented with options to "Buy" or "Sell." Make sure you select "Sell." It's crucial to double-check this to avoid accidentally buying more shares!
Step 3: Defining Your Order Parameters – Precision in Selling
This is where you specify exactly how you want to sell your shares. Webull offers various order types to give you control over your execution.
Sub-heading: Quantity to Sell
You'll see a field labeled "Quantity" or "Shares." Here, you need to input the exact number of shares you wish to sell.
Important Note on Specific Shares: If you've bought the same stock at different prices (creating different "lots"), Webull's default setting is often "First-In, First-Out" (FIFO) for tax purposes. However, if you need to sell specific lots (e.g., to manage capital gains/losses), you might need to adjust this before placing the trade. Webull typically allows you to specify tax lots, but this might be in a separate "Tax Lot" or "Cost Basis" management section within your account settings, or accessible during the sell order process for certain account types. Always consult Webull's official help or a tax advisor for complex tax lot management.
Sub-heading: Choosing Your Order Type
This is a critical decision that dictates how your sell order will be executed.
Market Order (Default and Simplest):
A market order tells Webull to sell your shares immediately at the best available current market price.
Pros: Quickest execution, ensures your order goes through right away.
Cons: You don't have control over the exact price you receive, especially in fast-moving markets. The price might fluctuate slightly between when you place the order and when it executes.
When to use: When speed of execution is your priority and you're comfortable with the current market price.
Limit Order (For Price Control):
A limit order allows you to set a minimum price you are willing to accept for your shares. Your order will only execute if the market price reaches your specified limit price or higher.
How to set: Select "Limit" as your order type. Then, a new field called "Limit Price" will appear. Enter the minimum price per share you want to sell for.
Pros: Guarantees you won't sell below your desired price.
Cons: Your order might not execute if the market price doesn't reach your limit. You could miss out on a sale if the price moves away from your limit.
When to use: When you want to ensure a specific selling price and are willing to wait for it.
Stop Order (For Risk Management):
A stop order (often a "Stop Loss" order when selling) is designed to limit your potential losses or protect unrealized gains. It becomes a market order when a specified "stop price" is reached.
How to set: Select "Stop" as your order type. Enter your "Stop Price." If the stock's price hits or falls below this stop price, your stop order turns into a market order to sell.
Pros: Excellent for risk management.
Cons: Once triggered, it becomes a market order, so you still face price slippage risk. In volatile markets, the execution price might be significantly lower than your stop price.
When to use: To protect your capital from significant downturns.
Stop Limit Order (Stop + Price Control):
A stop limit order combines aspects of both stop and limit orders. When your specified "stop price" is reached, it triggers a limit order (instead of a market order) to sell your shares at or above a specified "limit price."
How to set: Select "Stop Limit." You'll need to enter both a "Stop Price" and a "Limit Price." The stop price triggers the limit order, and the limit price is the minimum you're willing to accept for the sale.
Pros: Offers more control than a simple stop order by preventing sales at drastically low prices after triggering.
Cons: It carries the risk of not being filled if the price moves rapidly past your limit price after the stop is triggered.
When to use: When you want both loss protection and some control over the selling price.
Sub-heading: Time in Force
This setting determines how long your order will remain active if it's not immediately filled.
Day (Default): Your order is active only for the current trading day. If not filled by market close, it automatically cancels.
Good Till Canceled (GTC): Your order remains active until it's filled or you manually cancel it. This can be useful for limit or stop orders you want to keep open for an extended period. Webull GTC orders typically last for 60 days.
Other options (less common for basic selling): Immediate or Cancel (IOC), Fill or Kill (FOK) are more advanced options usually used by experienced traders.
Step 4: Reviewing and Confirming Your Order – The Final Check
Before you hit that "Sell" button, it's absolutely crucial to review all the details of your order.
Check everything:
Stock Symbol: Is it the correct stock you want to sell?
Action: Is it set to "Sell"?
Quantity: Is the number of shares accurate?
Order Type: Is it the intended order type (Market, Limit, Stop, Stop Limit)?
Price (if applicable): Is your limit price or stop price correctly entered?
Time in Force: Is it set to Day or GTC as desired?
Estimated Proceeds: Webull will often show you an estimated amount you'll receive from the sale (especially for market orders). This is a good sanity check.
Confirm: If everything looks correct, proceed to "Place Order" or "Confirm Sell."
Step 5: Monitoring Your Order – What Happens Next?
Once you've placed your order, it's time to monitor its status.
Pending Orders:
For limit, stop, or stop-limit orders, your order will likely appear in your "Open Orders" or "Pending Orders" section (usually found within your "Account" or "Orders" tab).
Here, you can see if your order has been partially filled, fully filled, or if it's still waiting to be executed.
You can also modify or cancel a pending order from this section if needed.
Filled Orders:
Once your sell order is executed, it will move from "Pending" to "Filled" or "Executed Orders."
You'll receive a notification from Webull confirming the sale, including the execution price and the number of shares sold.
The cash proceeds from the sale will typically appear in your account as " unsettled cash." Stock sales generally have a T+2 settlement period, meaning the cash will be fully available for withdrawal or for buying other securities after two business days.
Step 6: Post-Sale Account Management – What to Do with the Proceeds
After successfully selling your shares, you have several options for the funds.
Reinvest: You can use the settled cash to buy other stocks, ETFs, or other assets on Webull.
Withdraw: You can withdraw the funds to your linked bank account. Remember the T+2 settlement period before the funds are fully available for withdrawal.
Hold as Cash: You can simply keep the funds as cash in your Webull account. Webull offers interest on uninvested cash for certain account types and premium subscribers, so this could be an option.
Important Considerations:
Market Hours: Remember that regular U.S. stock market hours are typically 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday. While Webull offers extended hours trading (pre-market and after-hours), liquidity can be lower, and prices can be more volatile during these times. Selling during regular market hours often provides better execution.
Fees: While Webull generally offers $0 commission on stock and ETF trades, be aware that regulatory fees (like SEC and FINRA fees for sell orders) may still apply. These are usually very small.
Tax Implications: Selling shares has tax implications. Depending on how long you held the shares (short-term vs. long-term) and whether you sold for a profit or loss, it will affect your taxes. Always consult with a qualified tax advisor for personalized advice.
Fractional Shares: Webull supports fractional share trading. If you hold fractional shares, you can sell them just like whole shares.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to: Access my Webull account on different devices?
You can access your Webull account through their mobile app (iOS and Android), the desktop application for Windows and Mac, or directly via the Webull website (Webull Web) using any internet browser. Simply log in with your credentials.
How to: Sell fractional shares on Webull?
You sell fractional shares on Webull in the exact same way you sell whole shares. Simply enter the fractional quantity you wish to sell in the "Quantity" field when placing your sell order.
How to: Set a stop-loss order on Webull for my shares?
When placing a sell order, select "Stop" or "Stop Limit" as your order type. For a basic stop-loss, choose "Stop" and enter the "Stop Price" at which you want your market order to be triggered.
How to: Find my "Positions" on the Webull mobile app?
On the Webull mobile app, tap the Webull logo (Home button) at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to your "Account" tab, where you'll find the "Positions" section listing all your current holdings.
How to: Cancel a pending sell order on Webull?
Go to your "Account" tab, then navigate to "Open Orders" or "Pending Orders." Find the order you wish to cancel, tap or click on it, and you should see an option to "Cancel Order."
How to: Understand the difference between a Market and Limit order for selling?
A Market Order sells your shares immediately at the best available price, offering speed but no price guarantee. A Limit Order allows you to set a minimum price you're willing to accept, ensuring price control but risking that the order may not fill if the market doesn't reach your price.
How to: Check the settlement period for my sold shares on Webull?
Stock sales typically have a T+2 settlement period, meaning the cash from your sale will be fully available in your account after two business days. You can usually see the status of your funds in your account summary under "Cash Balance" or "Unsettled Funds."
How to: Reinvest the proceeds from selling shares on Webull?
Once the cash from your sold shares has settled (T+2 business days), it will be available in your Webull cash balance. You can then use these funds to place new "Buy" orders for other stocks, ETFs, or other investment products available on Webull.
How to: View my past executed sell orders on Webull?
You can typically find your past executed orders in your "Account" tab, under a section like "Order History," "Filled Orders," or "Trade History." This will show you details of all your completed transactions.
How to: Get tax documents for my stock sales on Webull?
Webull will provide necessary tax documents (like Form 1099-B) annually that summarize your trading activity, including sales and cost basis. These documents are usually available in your "Documents" or "Statements" section of your Webull account, typically accessible around tax season.
