Investors are nervous that Marvell would have to pay a big premium — and wait a while for China to approve any deal.
SUCCESS
Michael Burry followed Anthropic’s cash and saw familiar names
Most people with an S&P 500 index fund have never put a dollar into Anthropic, yet many own a piece of it anyway. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) holds Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), and both own big stakes in the Claude maker.
That link got louder this week. Anthropic filed its registration statement with the SEC on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, to list on Nasdaq under the ticker ANT.
Michael Burry, “The Big Short” investor, read the filing and followed the money. His Substack post on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, kept landing on Amazon, Alphabet’s Google, and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT).
Burry argued that this web leaves the system “catastrophically vulnerable” if growth stalls. He tallied about $537 billion in computing and equipment commitments tied to the filing, according to Seeking Alpha.
“There is a lot here but nothing that changes my view,” Burry said.
The dollar figure is striking, but the names explain his worry. Each plays several roles in Anthropic’s business at once.
Also read: Anthropic’s Elvis lawsuit could reach inside Claude itself
The same names show up at every stop
Start with where Anthropic’s money goes. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft supply much of the computing power that trains and runs Claude. Those deals require Anthropic to pay “regardless of usage,” Reuters reported from a draft of the filing.
The list reaches beyond cloud companies. Anthropic expects to pay Elon Musk’s SpaceX (SPCX) about $3.1 billion a month at full capacity, CNBC reported. Bills that size leave little room for a slow quarter.
Now follow it the other way. Amazon and Google are also major Anthropic investors. Amazon even holds convertible notes, a type of loan, and some will convert into Anthropic shares at the listing, according to the S-1.
The same companies help Anthropic sell. About 47% of its 2025 revenue came through Amazon’s and Google’s cloud marketplaces, Reuters reported from a draft filing. The cloud provider keeps a fee on each of those sales.
Anthropic does not hide the tension. Its S-1 warns that these overlapping roles create “complex dynamics that could give rise to conflicts of interest.” It also says some partners build rival models and have not supplied all the computing power it sought.
Amazon’s second-quarter profit included $53.4 billion in non-operating gains, mostly from its Anthropic stake, nearly double its operating income.VCG / Getty Images
The loop already runs through Big Tech profits
This is where Burry’s warning stops being only about Anthropic. Amazon’s second-quarter net income included $53.4 billion in non-operating gains, mostly from its Anthropic investments, according to a press release.
Amazon’s operating income, the profit from its stores, ads, and cloud, was $27.5 billion, as the same release shows. A paper markup outweighed the whole operating business nearly two to one.
Alphabet has felt the same lift. Anthropic stakes were the biggest first-quarter profit driver at both giants, Fortune reported. When they invest more or pledge more cloud capacity, Fortune noted, Anthropic’s valuation tends to climb, and so do their stakes.
That works well while the numbers rise. A stumble at Anthropic, however, would hit their cloud revenue and their investment gains at once.
Growth is what keeps the circle turning
So far, the growth has been real. Anthropic’s second-quarter revenue rose 1,368% from a year earlier, according to the S-1. Compute and infrastructure costs rose 300%, the filing shows, supporting the company’s case that it is getting more efficient.
Then the pace cooled. Anthropic told prospective investors that third-quarter revenue grew about 45% from the second quarter, Reuters reported. Revenue had more than doubled the quarter before.
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Most companies would celebrate that, and Anthropic said it was profitable on an adjusted basis, Bloomberg reported. Its commitments, however, were signed for a steeper curve.
The gap matters because Anthropic typically buys computing capacity 12 to 18 months ahead, according to the S-1, so those costs stay largely fixed. Revenue can slow in any quarter, but the bills arrive on schedule.
Burry is not a neutral reader. Last month, he posted that markets should “tank hard” to keep OpenAI and Anthropic from going public, TechSpot reported. Still, the filing’s own risk section backs his point.
Amazon has felt a paper gain flip before
Amazon shareholders have seen a stake like this reverse. Its holding in Rivian Automotive Inc. (RIVN) produced an $11.8 billion pretax gain in 2021, according to its earnings release.
A year later, Rivian’s sliding shares turned that stake into a $12.7 billion loss, the same release shows. The markdown pushed Amazon to a net loss for 2022.
The lesson is about timing. Rivian traded publicly, so Amazon’s stake reset with its stock price every quarter. The Anthropic stakes mostly reprice when Anthropic raises money, and the listing will change that.
Amazon reports third-quarter results on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, its first report since the filing. Next comes the price range in Anthropic’s amended S-1, which will ripple into earnings most index-fund owners already hold.
The biggest players in the AI buildout are increasingly tied together through one another’s stock. Anthropic’s listing is the moment that paper starts trading in public, where it can fall as easily as it rose.
Related: What Jim Cramer is watching as Anthropic heads to Nasdaq
How ‘Clayface’ And ‘Lanterns’ Could Give DC An Edge Over Marvel
DC Studios could use the genre experimentation of ‘Clayface’ and ‘Lanterns’ to distinguish the DCU from Marvel and redefine the future of superhero storytelling.
Northern Lights Forecast: Aurora Could Be Visible This Weekend In These States
The Earth could see the effects of minor geomagnetic storms early on Saturday morning, according to a forecast.
The Dangerous Car Recall You Can’t Ignore
Your vehicle may face a far greater risk of a spontaneous fire than you might expect.
According to Carfax, there are currently 3.2 million vehicles in the U.S. under active fire-risk recalls. In the automotive industry, these are commonly referred to as “park outside” orders.
Too often, when drivers receive a recall notice in the mail, the reaction is: “Yeah, I get all these recall letters. I’ll deal with it later.”
Please hear me on this: This one is real.
Why Modern Vehicles Are Catching Fire
Auto industry experts can only speculate on the full scope of the cause, but the consensus points to the sheer volume of complex electronics packed into modern vehicles.
When you combine a combustible fuel source like gasoline with faulty or short-circuiting electronics, trouble follows. Worse yet, this doesn’t just happen while driving. You don’t even have to be inside the vehicle. The car can be sitting parked, completely turned off and “sleeping” as far as you know, and it can still spontaneously combust.
Modern vehicle complexity has created this enhanced hazard. It doesn’t mean every car under a recall will burst into flames tomorrow, but it means the risk is elevated enough that manufacturers and safety regulators are sounding the alarm.
Critical Actions Every Driver Must Take
1. If You Have a ‘Park Outside’ Notice, Believe It
If your vehicle has an active park-outside order, do not ignore it, and do not park it inside an attached garage or carport.
If you continue to park indoors, you risk losing your entire home. I have personal friends who experienced this exact nightmare: Their vehicle spontaneously combusted in their garage, burning their house to the ground. They barely escaped with their lives.
I’m not saying your garage will catch fire tonight, but why take the chance? If you can park outside, away from your home, do so until the repair is completed.
2. Make the Time to Get the Repair Done
Across the country, driver response rates to safety recalls have dropped lower and lower. I understand why:
We lead busy lives.
We rely on our cars every day to get to work and transport our families.
Only certain auto brands offer loaner vehicles while they perform warranty or recall work.
Because taking a car to the dealership is an inconvenience, people put it off. But an open fire-risk recall is not something to delay.
The manufacturer did not build a fire hazard intentionally, but the repair is necessary to protect you and your property. You have to make time, schedule the appointment, and accept the temporary inconvenience to resolve the issue.
How To Check Your Vehicle for Open Recalls
It’s good practice to check every car in your household — including vehicles driven by your kids or teenagers — at least once a year. It only takes a couple of minutes to verify your safety status using your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):
NHTSA.gov: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a free, searchable database (nhtsa.gov/recalls) where you can enter your VIN to see any uncompleted safety recalls.
The Center for Auto Safety: If you want an even deeper look or find government databases tricky to navigate, the Center for Auto Safety maintains an extensive database tracking safety complaints, defect investigations, and issues that may extend beyond standard recalls.
Recall repairs are performed by authorized dealerships free of charge. Don’t let an unread piece of mail put your home or safety on the line—look up your VIN today and schedule any pending fixes.
The post The Dangerous Car Recall You Can’t Ignore appeared first on Clark Howard.
Fewer Americans are opening Uber Eats as DoorDash pulls ahead
Most people don’t think much about which delivery app they open. You pick the one with the lower fee, the faster driver, or the promo code that landed in your inbox.
That habit is exactly what makes delivery such a tough business. Loyalty lasts only as long as the next discount.
I’m clearly not alone in relying on Uber for both rides and meals. Uber Technologies (UBER) handled 3.9 billion trips in the second quarter, with gross bookings up 24% to $58 billion, according to its earnings release.
“Uber’s platform advantage continues to compound: record consumers and engagement, and profitable growth across our business,” said CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in the release.
However, a subtle shift has emerged in how Americans use the delivery side of that platform.
According to a Bank of America research report seen by TheStreet, Uber Eats is losing daily users in the U.S. while DoorDash (DASH) keeps adding them.
The note lands one week before Uber reports third-quarter results on Nov. 4, according to the bank.
Bank of America data shows US Uber Eats daily users fell 4% while DoorDash grew 8%.Bloomberg / Getty Images
The app data shows Uber Eats slipping in the U.S.
The numbers come from Sensor Tower data cited in the report. U.S. daily active users of the Uber Eats app averaged 2.8 million in the third quarter, down 4% from a year earlier.
DoorDash averaged 9.1 million U.S. daily users over the same stretch, up 8%. Globally, Uber Eats was flat at 11 million, while DoorDash grew 11% to 10 million.
More Food Delivery:
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There is a caveat. Customers “can also order Delivery through the main Uber app,” the analysts noted, so the Eats app alone may understate demand.
The ride-hailing side looks steadier. Uber’s U.S. rider app averaged 4.8 million daily users, up 1%, while Lyft (LYFT) fell 5% to 2.7 million.
Here is how the third-quarter app data stacks up, according to Sensor Tower figures in the note:
Uber Eats, U.S.: 2.8 million daily users, down 4%
DoorDash, U.S.: 9.1 million daily users, up 8%
Uber rider app, U.S.: 4.8 million daily users, up 1%
Waymo One, U.S.: 148,000 daily users, up 65%
Uber driver app, U.S.: 1.9 million daily users, down 2%
Investors have noticed the pressure. Uber shares hit a 52-week low of $65.41 on Oct. 28 and are down about 31% over the past year, Investing.com reported.
Analyst Justin Post laid out the case in a note titled “3Q Preview: Expect in-line qtr and outlook, AV supply & competition in focus.”
“YTD multiple compression suggests negative sentiment into the print,” wrote Post. He added that Uber trades at about 10 times its 2027 enterprise value to EBITDA, “near its all-time low.”
DoorDash is getting bigger as its rival walks away
The competitive backdrop is shifting fast. DoorDash is in advanced talks to buy Instacart (CART) in a deal valued at about $17 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Instacart’s market value was about $13 billion before the report. Press reports suggest Uber walked away from its own talks, the Bank of America analysts wrote.
Uber is placing different bets. It agreed this month to buy catering platform ezCater for $2.3 billion in cash, and it has also agreed to acquire Delivery Hero, the note said.
The two rivals are also fighting over the same partners. Costco signed delivery deals with both Uber Eats and DoorDash in September, with Uber Eats covering nearly 600 Costco locations in 47 states, the note said.
Drivers face their own squeeze. The national average for regular gas was $4.27 a gallon on Oct. 22, down from $4.41 on Oct. 1, according to AAA.
“The drop is fueled by the transition to winter-blend gasoline,” AAA said. Post still flagged elevated gas prices as a possible risk to driver supply and margins.
Given that backdrop, it’s easy to understand why the bank thinks the earnings call matters more than the quarter itself.
Bank of America says robotaxis will decide the next move
Post expects a quarter in line with Wall Street. He estimates gross bookings of $59.8 billion, up about 20% from $49.7 billion a year earlier, with adjusted EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] of $2.94 billion.
For the fourth quarter, he expects guidance of $62.75 billion to $64.75 billion in bookings and adjusted earnings of 96 cents to $1 a share.
He trimmed his 2026 adjusted earnings estimate to $3.43 a share from $3.45, mostly because a stronger dollar shrinks Uber’s overseas sales.
Delivery may surprise to the upside, though.
Bank of America card data showed online restaurant spending up 10% in the third quarter. That’s an acceleration from the second quarter, the analysts wrote.
The bigger question is robotaxis. Waymo plans to grow its fleet from about 4,000 vehicles to 8,000 by year-end and 20,000 by the end of 2027, Semafor reported, according to the note.
“We believe an update on more visible US AV [autonomous vehicle] supply pipeline (NVIDIA deal a potential driver) is key for sentiment,” wrote Post.
Much will likely depend, however, on whether Uber’s partners can actually deliver the cars. Lucid alone has committed at least 35,000 vehicles, and Post wants updates on whether partners, “especially Lucid,” can meet those commitments.
In my analysis, there’s an irony in the math. Bank of America cut its estimates and kept its $101 price objective, yet the implied upside jumped to 53.5% from about 43% last month simply because the stock fell.
For Post, that gap is the opportunity. “We see room for multiple expansion with AV progress,” he wrote, reiterating a Buy rating.
Related: Bank of America sees 43% upside in beaten-down ride-hailing giant
Why You Should Always Ask for an Itemized Hospital Bill
On a recent podcast, we received a message from an independent medical provider explaining how their insurance reimbursements are drastically lower than what hospital-owned facilities receive.
What is happening across the country is a clash between two titans of the marketplace: massive hospital systems — many of which have built local monopolies or semi-monopolies — and giant health insurance companies fighting over reimbursement rates.
As they battle it out, you and I are the ones left holding the bag.
How the Hospital Squeeze Hits Your Wallet
First, large hospital networks hold immense negotiating leverage over insurers, which has been a primary driver of the relentless, year-after-year increases in our health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Second, there is growing concern that patients are absorbing more charges because hospitals are constantly looking for new ways to bill insurers. There are even claims that hospital billing departments are deploying AI to run up charges — identifying one procedure and automatically tacking on fees for related services.
When the insurance company pushes back and refuses to cover these inflated fees, the hospital often turns around and attempts to balance-bill you for the difference.
Why You Must Demand an Itemized Bill
If you have been in the hospital for any length of time, you are likely facing a serious bill.
Hospitals usually send a summary statement that looks something like:
Total Charges: $X
Insurance Paid: $Y
Amount You Owe: $Z
Do not just pay that summary bill. You must request a complete, itemized bill with every individual charge, service, and medical billing code listed. Hospitals often resist handing this over, but you have the right to see it.
Once you receive that itemized bill:
Decode the line items: If you see a mysterious charge — say, $1,422 for a medical term or procedure you don’t recognize — look it up. Today, you can even paste confusing medical codes or descriptions into an AI tool to translate them into plain English.
Check for phantom charges: Over and over again, patients find charges for medications they never received, tests that were never performed, or duplicate line items.
Compare with your EOB: Line up your itemized bill against the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company. Often, an insurer denies a legitimate claim simply due to a coding error, leaving you with an improper bill.
(Note: If you are recovering from a major illness or procedure and do not have the energy to tackle this, enlist a trusted family member or friend to make the calls and review the statements on your behalf.)
Medical Debt and Your Credit
This isn’t just about a few extra dollars — big money is at stake.
Even after recent credit bureau rule changes removed many smaller medical debts, medical debt still makes up roughly half of all collection items appearing on credit reports. You do not want your credit score trashed, your phone ringing with collection calls, or a hospital taking legal action over charges you legitimately do not owe.
When To Bring in a Professional Advocate
If you are facing a massive, complex hospital bill and feel overwhelmed, consider hiring an independent medical billing advocate (patient advocate).
These are frequently former medical billing specialists and hospital back-office professionals who review charges for a living. They know how the system operates, how to spot billing errors, and how to negotiate directly with hospital financial departments.
Most advocates work for an hourly fee or a percentage of the money they save you — and on a significant bill, they can save you a fortune.
Final Thoughts
The healthcare billing system is deeply broken, but it is the system we have to navigate right now. Everyone wants a piece of your wallet; your job is to ensure that whatever comes out of your pocket is strictly what you legitimately owe.
When it comes to medical expenses, do not be passive. Ask for that itemized bill, scrutinize every charge, and protect your hard-earned money.
The post Why You Should Always Ask for an Itemized Hospital Bill appeared first on Clark Howard.
8 Best Stock Trading Apps of November 2026
Key Takeaways
Fidelity Investments is the best overall stock trading app thanks to its low fees, variety of order types, comprehensive research tools and intuitive interface. Robinhood is an excellent alternative for beginners, while TradeStation is ideal for experienced traders.
Most stock trading apps operate as brokerage platforms, meaning they execute trades on behalf of users rather than acting as marketplaces themselves.
Automation and AI features are an increasingly common sight in trading apps, from recurring investments and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) to portfolio rebalancing tools and robo-advisors.
Stock apps vary widely in terms of what products, fees, data, service and abilities they offer. It’s important to compare options and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
We evaluated 20 stock trading apps based on 24 data points grouped under three factors: cost, features and user experience.
Our top picks for the best stock trading apps
Fidelity Investments: Best for a Wide Range of Investment Products
Robinhood: Best Trading App for Beginners
TradeStation: Best App for Active Traders
Interactive Brokers: Best Trading App for Global Investing
SoFi Invest: Best Low-Cost Trading App
Moomoo: Best Trading App for Options
Charles Schwab: Best Trading App for Retirement Investing
eToro: Best App for Social Trading
Latest news for stock trading app users (as of Oct. 29, 2026)
The Federal Reserve held interest rates on Oct. 28, 2026, on a 10–2 vote. Cash yields at brokers are variable, so the rates quoted below can change.
FINRA’s change to the pattern day trader rule took effect June 4, 2026. It phases in through Oct. 20, 2027. See our FAQ below.
Charles Schwab began rolling out Schwab Crypto in May 2026. It offers bitcoin and ether trading, with solana, avalanche and chainlink announced as next.
Public lists a 3.75% APY on cash with a paid Reserve subscription and 3.30% without one, as of Sept. 17, 2026.
Pros
$0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options (options carry a 65-cent contract fee)
Industry-leading research from 20+ independent providers
No expense ratios on select Fidelity index funds
Highly-rated mobile apps
Above-average DIY investor satisfaction
Cons
High broker-assisted trade fees
65 cents per options contract
0% expense ratio funds are limited to Fidelity’s offerings
Why we chose it: Fidelity does more things exceptionally well than any other platform on our list. It charges no trading commissions, offers proprietary index funds with a 0% expense ratio, provides research from more than 20 independent data providers, and its app has over 4 stars for both iPhone and Android. All this with no account minimum and no pressure to upgrade to a paid tier to unlock basic features.
What makes Fidelity especially compelling for a wide range of investors is how well it scales. A first-time investor can open an account for as little as $1 with fractional shares available for around 7,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), follow structured educational content and get started with a Fidelity Zero fund at no cost. Meanwhile, more experienced investors have access to Trader+, which offers sophisticated screeners and one of the deepest libraries of third-party research in retail brokerage. There are also classes and live events to help you learn more about the Trader+ web, mobile and desktop tools and how to use them to your advantage.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 stocks/ETFs; 65 cents per options contract; bonds ~$1
Promotions
None as of Sept. 29, 2026
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
$0 commissions with no per-contract options fee on equity options (index options carry a contract fee: $0.50, or $0.35 with Gold)
Clean, intuitive mobile-first user interface
IRA with up to 3% contribution match (requires a paid Robinhood Gold subscription ($5/month); non-Gold customers receive only 1%)
24/7 in-app customer support
Highly rated mobile app
Cons
History of outages during high-volatility market events
No mutual funds or individual bonds
$5/mo or $50/yr (single charge) for Robinhood Gold
Below-average for DIY investor satisfaction
Nearly 4,200 complaints with the CFPB in the last three years
Why we chose it: Robinhood offers a nearly frictionless experience, with account setup taking just minutes and an uncluttered, easily readable trading screen. Fractional shares starting at just $1 lets you build a portfolio with whatever amount you can spare, even if that’s just a few dollars. That level of accessibility combined with 24/7 customer support directly inside the app makes Robinhood the most forgiving platform for investors who are still learning the basics.
Robinhood includes a wide variety of educational resources, 24-hour stock trading five days a week, IPO access and a Gold membership tier that unlocks reduced management, futures, and index fees, as well as AI insights from Robinhood Cortex and charts and analysis through Robinhood Legend. Robinhood also offers custodial investment accounts, checking and savings accounts, and an individual retirement account (IRA) with up to a 3% contribution match — a meaningful feature that competitors rarely offer.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 trades; no equity options contract fee
Promotions
Refer a friend and get up to $15,000 in stock per year (US residents; for sign-ups on or after Sept. 1, 2026)
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
Advanced trading tools in a modern, cross-platform interface
Commission-free stock and ETF trades
High complexity futures and options tools
Extensive backtesting capabilities
Up to $3,500 in cash rewards
Highly rated mobile app
Cons
$35 annual IRA fee and $50 IRA termination fee
Steeper learning curve than competitors
Inactivity fee of $10 per month
No fractional shares
Why we chose it: TradeStation comes closest to giving retail investors the same execution environment as professional traders. Its newest Mac and Windows application marks a significant quality-of-life improvement by packaging TradeStation’s multi-asset charting, complex options spread grouping, real-time Matrix price ladder and FuturesPlus platform into an interface that is much easier to navigate. There are also trading simulators and backtesting tools to help investors head off mistakes before they happen.
TradeStation’s integration with Claude, Anthropic’s AI model, allows traders to connect their brokerage account directly to the AI to fetch live quotes, preview orders and analyze portfolio risk using plain-language prompts. Moreover, the platform is virtually unrivaled when it comes to backtesting and systematic strategy thanks to its extensive historical data library and EasyLanguage scripting environment.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 for new accounts; $0.80 per options contract ($0 at the highest trading volume tier);
Promotions
$0 per leg trade options for three months
Minimum Deposit
$0 (margin trading requires $2,000)
Pros
$0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
No account minimum or annual fee
Fractional shares starting at $5
No SoFi options contract fees (regulatory and clearing fees apply)
No. 1 for DIY investor satisfaction (JD Power)
Highly rated mobile app
1% cash match and IRA match for Plus members
Cons
Limited third-party ETF variety
$100 account transfer-out fee
$25 inactivity fee
Why we chose it: While Fidelity and Charles Schwab charge 65 cents per options contract, SoFi InvestⓇ charges no commission and no SoFi contract fee on options. Robinhood and Moomoo also waive per-contract fees on equity options. Regulatory and clearing fees still apply on every contract. For investors who trade options with any regularity, that difference adds up quickly and meaningfully over time.
Beyond its pricing structure, SoFi’s broader advantage is integration. Users who already bank with SoFi can move money between checking, savings and investing accounts without friction. That helps provide a full picture of your finances in a single app, which also gives you access to IPO investing and automated portfolios alongside self-directed trading.
If you become a SoFi Plus member, you can earn an unlimited 1% match on recurring deposits to a SoFi Invest account, paid in rewards points.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 trades; no options contract fee
Promotions
Up to $1,000 in free stock for new SoFi Active Invest accounts
Minimum Deposit
$5
Pros
Unmatched reach in global market and currency access
Commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trading on IBKR lite
Among the lowest currency conversion fees in the industry
Exceptionally low margin rates
Highly rated mobile app
Uninvested cash earns high interest rate
Cons
High minimum balance required for reaping interest
Steep learning curve for its flagship platform
Limited crypto offering
Why we chose it: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) provides access to 170 markets, 40 trading countries and 29 currencies for funding, all in a single account. Where most U.S. brokers limit international exposure to a handful of American Depositary Receipts or a curated set of foreign ETFs, IBKR offers direct access to tens of thousands of listings across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. There’s also overnight trading.
IBKR Pro’s currency conversion fee of a flat 0.003% is significantly cheaper than the 0.50% to 1.50% markup charged by competitors — a difference that compounds meaningfully for any investor regularly moving between currencies to buy foreign-listed securities. Moreover, the platform’s research library spans more than 140 domestic and international providers; it boasts AI integrations with ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, and Claude; and its SMART Routing technology routinely scans for best execution across exchanges globally.
One last perk: Uninvested cash balances above $10,000 earn up to 3.38% interest — automatically.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 (Lite); $0.15 to $0.65 per options contract on Pro, $0.65 on Lite
Promotions
$10 instant cash when opening a new Prediction Markets account
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
No equity options commissions and no per-contract fee
Advanced multi-chart layout and AI-powered assistant
Paper trading with up to $1 million in virtual funds
Access to new Nasdaq weekly expirations
Highly rated mobile app
Uninvested cash earns very high interest
24/7 support
Cons
$20 fee for domestic bank wire withdrawals; $25 for international
No mutual funds or IRAs
Why we chose it: Moomoo doesn’t charge commissions or per-contract fee on equity options, putting it on a very short list of platforms that offer options trading for free. For traders who run high-frequency strategies or manage sizable positions across multiple names, the savings relative to the 65 cents-per-contract standard charged by most full-service brokers are substantial.
The Moomoo desktop and mobile apps support up to six simultaneous charts, a customizable layout, over 60 technical indicators, and Moomoo AI — an integrated trading assistant that processes real-time market data. The platform’s partnership with Nasdaq adds nine major U.S. underlyings — the main investment an option is based on — that expire twice a week for even greater flexibility in short-term strategies. Cash sweeps at Moomoo earn a hefty 3.60% APY for users who meet a qualifying deposit or transfer requirement (promo rate as of Sept. 18, 2026; rates can change).
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 stocks/options (reg fees apply)
Promotions
Up to $1,000 in NVDA shares plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash; $200 in traditing coupons for depositing $100
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
Widest selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds among major brokers
Over 400 branch locations nationwide for in-person guidance
Automated IRA management with no advisory fee
24/7 phone and chat support
Thinkorswim tools offer charting, analysis and simulation trading
Cons
Low interest rate on uninvested cash
Limited crypto trading
Below average DIY and advised investor satisfaction (JD Power)
Why we chose it: Schwab offers nearly 4,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, giving IRA holders a broader selection from which they can build a passive, low-cost portfolio without worrying about trading fees eroding contributions. Its IRAs carry no annual fees and no closing fees, removing two of the most common hidden costs in retirement accounts.
The platform also leads on the advisory side. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios provides fully automated IRA management with no management fee — unusual in an industry where robo-advisory services typically cost 0.25% annually. Its 24/7 phone and chat support remains among the most consistently praised customer service teams in retail brokerage.
Schwab also gives its investment customers access to thinkorswim, trading platforms that offer charting, analysis and simulation tools. It’s available via desktop, mobile or web app.Schwab Crypto began rolling out to clients in May 2026 and lets investors buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum at 75 basis points per trade, in a separate account through Schwab Premier Bank. Schwab has announced that solana, avalanche and chainlink are coming next.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 stocks; 65 cents per options contract
Promotions
$100 to $1,000 via referral from an existing Schwab client; 500 commission-free trades with a qualifying deposit of $100,000 or more
Minimum Deposit
$0 ($5,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios)
Pros
40 million+ user community
Commission-free stock and ETF trading
Copy the portfolios of vetted US investors (US users can copy only US-based traders; $200 minimum per copy; phased rollout, not available in all states)
Social feed, live market commentary and sentiment data
$0 withdrawal fee and a $30 minimum withdrawal amount
Highly rated mobile app
Invest as little as $50
Cons
Narrower asset selection than full-service competitors
Fractional shares carry a $10 minimum
$50 minimum for options trading
1% fee on crypto
Why we chose it: eToro’s CopyTrader feature lets you automatically mirror the real-time trades of verified investors with publicly audited performance histories. In the US, you can copy only other US-based customers. Performance data going back multiple years, risk scores and monthly return breakdowns make it easy to evaluate who you’re copying. Plus, there are no management fees for copy trading; the only cost is the same spread you’d pay on any trade executed manually.
You can start investing with as little as $50, and there’s even a virtual portfolio feature to help you practice your trades.
Every asset page on eToro is integrated with live community discussion, sentiment indicators and real-time commentary from other investors. In 2025, eToro expanded that feed by incorporating data from Stocktwits’ over 10 million users, giving the platform one of the most robust market-sentiment signals available to retail investors.
The company is working on a new product that will allow customers to direct funds straight from their paychecks into investments.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
Spread-based
Promotions
Up to $300 crypto bonus with first deposit
Minimum Deposit
$10
Other stock trading apps we considered
E*TRADE
E*TRADE is a well-rounded broker and an excellent option for investors who want to dive into educational resources. In addition to commission-free stock, ETF and options trades, the platform also enjoys backing from Morgan Stanley, which adds a layer of institutional research most discount brokers can’t match. However, it struggles to carve a niche for itself in a field where competitors offer comparable or superior tools at similar prices. It was also rated well-below average on JD Power’s Satisfaction Study.
Plynk
Purpose-built for first-time investors, Plynk removes several barriers that typically discourage beginners. It has no account minimum, fractional trades starting at $1 and plain-language guidance throughout the app. The platform’s learning hub offers structured lessons on investing basics, and a simulated trading environment with $100,000 in virtual funds lets new investors hone their skills before risking real money. It also offers a 25% cash match on dividends earned — up to $250 per year (or 50% and $500 if you join Plynk Premium).
Because Plynk offers no automated trading, rebalancing or tax optimization, and has no IRA support, investors may need to graduate to a fuller platform as their goals grow. But as an on-ramp for the genuinely uninitiated, it does its job better than almost any competitor in this category.
Public
Public offers stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, crypto and a high-yield cash account in one app, with a built-in social feed for community discussion. The platform stands out for its options rebate model, which pays traders back a portion of the spread rather than routing orders to market makers for profit. It also has a 1% cash match on both its Roth and Traditional IRAs. While Public doesn’t match the versatility or depth of eToro’s copy-trading, it’s still worth a look for investors who want an honest cost structure and a community-driven experience.
Webull
Webull offers commission-free trading on US-listed stocks and ETFs, $0 contract fees on stock and ETF options, and Roth, Traditional and Rollover IRAs with no account minimums. Its pages disagree on its index-option fees and cash yield, so check the current fee schedule in the app before you open an account.
Ally Invest
Ally tied for third place in J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Investor Satisfaction Study for DIY investors, with a score of 707.
What you need to know about stock trading apps
Stock trading apps allow investors to buy and sell stocks online, be it on desktop or on your mobile device. Most trading apps also allow you to trade other types of securities, such as ETFs, bonds, options, futures and even crypto.
To use one of these platforms, you must first create an account and deposit funds into it. Once the account is set up, you can research different stocks, track their performance and decide which ones to buy or sell. The app will calculate the total cost of trading and show it to you trade on a confirmation screen.
After the user confirms the transaction, the app will send the order directly to the broker. Then, once it has been completed — often within seconds — the user will receive a trade confirmation, and the stock will be added to their portfolio. The app will also provide real-time updates on the stock’s performance so the user can monitor their investments.
What are stock trading app orders?
An order in a trading app is a set of instructions given to a broker that determine how and when a trade is executed. Stock trading apps typically support a set of standard order types that includes market orders, limit orders and stop orders. More advanced apps may offer conditional orders such as bracket orders or one-cancels-the-other (OCO) orders, where executing one order.
How to start investing with stock trading apps
Getting started with stock trading apps is a relatively simple process.
Choose a brokerage app that matches your goal — such as retirement, saving for a major purchase or learning how markets work — and your style of investing. Compare fees, investment options, user interface, educational tools and customer support.
Download the app and create a brokerage account. You’ll usually need to provide your personal information so the platform can verify your identity. Don’t forget to enable two-factor authentication, use a strong password and turn on biometric login if available.
Connect your checking or savings account so you can transfer funds into the trading app.
Choose a security, enter the dollar amount or number of shares, review the order and confirm the purchase.
Check your investments periodically. As your goals, income and risk tolerance change, revisit your portfolio. You may need to rebalance, increase contributions or shift toward more conservative investments over time.
Best Stock Trading Apps FAQs
Are stock trading apps safe?
Reputable U.S. trading apps generally use encryption to protect customer data and operate under oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. SEC-registered broker-dealers are also generally members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which can restore up to $500,000 per customer if a brokerage fails, including up to $250,000 in cash.
That protection has limits. SIPC does not reimburse you for investment losses, and it generally does not protect cryptocurrencies or other digital assets that don’t qualify as securities.
Do you still need $25,000 to day trade?
No. FINRA did away with the pattern day trader designation and its longstanding $25,000 minimum equity requirement in 2026. The previous trade-counting system was replaced with intraday margin requirements that apply throughout the trading day.
You still need at least $2,000 in equity to use a margin account, and individual brokerages can set stricter requirements of their own. So while the $25,000 threshold is gone, frequent trading with borrowed money still comes with capital and margin requirements.
How do free trading apps make money?
A trading app can charge zero commissions and still make money in several other ways. Depending on the platform, revenue may come from payment for order flow, interest earned on customers’ uninvested cash, margin lending, securities lending and paid subscription plans.
There can also be smaller fees that aren’t obvious from the “commission-free” label, such as options contract fees, wire transfer charges, inactivity fees or account transfer fees. That’s why it’s worth looking beyond the advertised trading commission when comparing platforms.
Can you lose more money than you invest?
Not if you’re simply buying stocks in a standard cash account. In that case, the most you can generally lose on a stock investment is the amount you paid for it.
Margin trading is different because you’re investing with money borrowed from your brokerage. If your investments fall sharply, you can lose more than your original cash deposit. Your broker may also sell investments in your account without getting your approval first if your equity falls below its maintenance requirements. Certain options strategies can carry substantial losses as well.
How much money is needed to start trading?
You don’t need much to get started with many of today’s trading apps. Most major platforms have no account minimum, and fractional shares make it possible to invest with only a few dollars. Fidelity and Robinhood, for example, allow fractional-share purchases starting at $1, while SoFi starts at $5 and eToro at $10.
Minimum balances aren’t the only fees to watch, though. Some platforms charge inactivity fees if you leave an account unused for too long, which can matter more than the amount required to open the account.
How do taxes work with stock trading apps?
Your brokerage typically reports taxable investment activity to the IRS and provides you with tax forms, often including a consolidated Form 1099 covering sales, dividends and interest. You’re still responsible for making sure the information is reported correctly on your tax return.
How much tax you owe depends in part on how long you held the investment. Gains on investments held for one year or less are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates, while investments held for more than a year may qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates. You also need to watch the wash sale rule, which can prevent you from immediately claiming certain losses if you sell an investment and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days.
What’s the difference between a market order and a limit order?
A market order tells your broker to buy or sell as soon as possible at the best price currently available. It’s designed for speed, but the final price may be different from the one you saw when you submitted the order.
A limit order gives you more control over price. You choose the highest price you’re willing to pay when buying, or the lowest price you’re willing to accept when selling. The trade will only go through if the market reaches that price, so there’s no guarantee the order will be filled. Limit orders can be especially useful with volatile or lightly traded stocks, where prices can move quickly.
Methodology
To identify the best stock trading apps, we evaluated platforms across three categories: cost, features and user experience. Each category reflects several data points that directly affect how investors interact with a trading app, from affordability to functionality and ease of use.
Cost
We evaluated cost by looking at the direct and indirect expenses associated with each platform. That includes trading commissions for stocks, ETFs and options; margin rates; account minimums; and any subscription or premium feature fees. We also considered additional charges, such as transfer fees, inactivity fees and costs tied to advanced data or tools.
Features
For features, our focus was on the breadth and quality of investment tools offered by each app. We considered access to different asset classes such as stocks, ETFs, options and crypto, as well as the availability of fractional shares. Research tools, charting capabilities, educational resources, automation features and advanced trading functionalities were also taken into account.
User Experience
We assessed the overall usability and design of each app to evaluate user experience. This includes account setup, navigation, trade execution and portfolio management. Factors such as mobile app performance, interface clarity, customization options and reliability factored into the equation. Customer support availability and responsiveness also played a role.
Summary of our top picks
Fidelity Investments: Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products
Robinhood: Best Trading App for Beginners
TradeStation: Best App for Active Traders
Interactive Brokers: Best Trading App for Global Investing
SoFi Invest: Best Low-Cost Trading App
Moomoo: Best Trading App for Options
Charles Schwab: Best Trading App for Retirement Investing
eToro: Best App for Social Trading
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REI’s new-arrival snow boots are already on sale for $70, and they keep your feet warm in -25° weather
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Why we love this deal
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Northside Wolf Creek Snow Boots, $70 (was $95) at REI
Courtesy of REI
Shop at REI
Why do shoppers love it?
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Related: REI is selling $140 waterproof hiking boots for 50% off
The boots are available in men’s sizes eight through thirteen, and are available in only the Olive colorway. However, it’s a classic look that will go with any outerwear you happen to choose.
Shop more deals
Keen Hightrail Polar Waterproof Hiking Boots, $110 (was $165) at REI
Merrell Speed Solo MXD Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots, $120 (was $160) at REI
Columbia Newton Peak Waterproof Hiking Boots, $80 (was $110) at REI
The Northside Wolf Creek Snow Boots are a great pair of year-round footwear. The sale price of $70 makes them an amazing buy, considering they are a new arrival. If you want to be ready for the impending winter weather, then this might be the best pre-holiday buy you can make for yourself.