Can You Day Trade Blue Chip Stocks?


Day trading is profitable if you can successfully speculate or have reliable analysis inferring an operating profit. Blue-chip stocks are usually stable and less volatile than even some market index funds. Thus, the holistic question is, can you day trade blue-chip stocks, and should you?

Blue chip stocks are low volatility stocks and therefore not ideal for day trading. However, in niche scenarios such as the earnings report announcement, noticeable changes in dividend yield, stock buyback plan releases, or any other major news events day trading blue chip stocks can be profitable. 

Blue-chip stocks are a favorite of institutional investors. Most of these individuals and companies prefer to hold such stocks for decades, and a lifetime, in some cases. This guide discusses how you can day trade blue-chip stocks, in what circumstances, and if you should.

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How To Day Trade Blue Chip Stocks?

You can day trade blue-chip stocks through a brokerage firm, traditional or online. You can choose a cash or margin account. Both types of accounts have advantages and limitations (more on these later in this guide).  

Blue-chip stocks are traded in the same way as other equities. You need a seller or buyer, depending on your position. The brokerage firm or trader facilitates the entire deal. However, the terms of every buy & sell must be acceptable to both parties to initiate and complete the trade. 

Here’s what you need to day trade blue-chip stocks:

  • A retail investor account.
  • Sufficient cash, long position, or leverage.
  • A selected blue-chip stock to day trade.
  • Buy and sell, or vice versa, depending on your initial position. 
  • Execute the day trade per the buying and selling terms.  

5 Circumstances When You May Day Trade Blue Chip Stocks

Blue-chip stocks don’t usually undergo significant fluctuations to secure a substantial profit through a day trade. You may have to pay brokerage fees for every transaction, which may be higher if you’re not an institutional investor. 

Do the math before you decide to day trade blue-chip stocks. The financial prudence aside, you can try to capitalize on a few opportunities if and when they’re available. 

Some of the following circumstances apply to most listed stocks and are particularly relevant for blue-chip companies. 

Quarterly and Fiscal Reports

Publicly listed companies are legally mandated to publish their quarterly earnings and fiscal reports. You can consider a day trade if you sense an opportunity of a blue-chip stock undergoing some volatility or significant change in its share price during such times. 

It’s essential to note that most institutional and retail investors owning blue-chip stocks are astute observers of the market and routinely study the quarterly and fiscal reports. Hence, you must have a solid opportunity to take the risk of a day trade. 

Significant Announcements

Stock markets respond to significant announcements of blue-chip companies. Such news could be about upcoming products or services, breakthrough technological developments or business expansion, diversification, and other game-changing updates. 

Some news may have a stark negative impact on their blue-chip stocks. The information could be a company’s official announcements or external events beyond their control but affecting their businesses. 

Such developments may lead to blue-chip stock price fluctuations. A day trade can leverage a resulting crash if the entry and exit are timed perfectly per the announcements. 

However, consider the possibilities of market, limit, or stop orders of the other party. You may also explore these options to take full advantage of a day trade opportunity. 

Blue Chip Company Plans a Buyback

Blue-chip companies can buy back their shares from both retail and institutional investors. Any buyback exercise is always planned and executed methodically. However, you may consider a day trade if your assessment of a particular buyback infers a profitable operating margin.

Dividend Policy Changes Disappoint Some Investors 

Blue-chip shares are subject to much less speculation than other equities or securities, especially growth stocks. Hence, you’re unlikely to witness hysteric spikes or plummets in their prices. However, the market responds to various realities. 

One influencing factor is the dividend. Blue-chip stocks pay dividends of varying yields. A company may increase or reduce the dividend, breaking from its norm and beyond the usual expectation of the market.

The dividend policy change may disappoint some investors, especially those seeking market cap growth, increasing share price, and a net appreciation of their invested capital. 

Blue-chip companies increasing their dividend for shareholders indicates limited room for growth that could utilize the surplus cash. Those lowering the dividend yield imply the blue-chip company has a diminishing cash reserve or reduced operating profits. 

Thus, some investors may want to offload their holdings. While such offloading tends to depreciate a share price, the stock may also undergo an immediate appreciation. 

A day trade may or may not be ideal for tapping into this opportunity. However, this is one probability that you could explore. Otherwise, many blue-chip stocks might not offer you the operating margin within a few hours of day trading to make a buy and sell transaction profitable.

You Know a Secret Others Don’t

Insider trading is illegal but insightful analysis discovering a valuable fact isn’t. You may spot a trend no one else knows. You could identify day trade opportunities yet to be monetized. Although challenging, some retail investors can analyze, identify, and explore unique options. 

3 Scenarios When You Cannot Day Trade Blue Chip Stocks

Day trading is subject to multiple checks and balances, particularly for beginners and those not duly recognized for such an activity. You can’t day trade blue-chip stocks in some scenarios.  

If You Invest in an Index or Closed-End Mutual Fund

An index fund trades only once a day, usually after the session ends. The fund manager has to calculate and declare the net asset value, which forms the basis of a trade, whether buying or selling. In effect, you can’t day trade blue-chip stocks within the holdings of an index fund you own. 

A closed-end investment may have a lock-in period per the new fund offer (NFO). You can’t day trade such funds. Also, any buying or selling of closed-end mutual funds is permitted at maturity or after the mandatory lock-in period. 

If There Is a Trading Halt

The stock market can halt trading for various reasons. A blue-chip company may stop trading its stocks if there’s a possibility of unfair share price manipulations due to market sentiments. 

A stock may also not trade due to significant news, reports, breakthroughs, regulatory approvals or disapprovals, changes in relevant laws, judicial processes, and other developments. 

Anything that can have a severe unfavorable impact on the share price of blue-chip stocks may become the reason for a trading halt. Sometimes, a stock’s trading halt is for individuals or specific accounts instead of the entire market.  

If Your Account Has Restrictions

You can’t day trade blue-chip stocks with a restricted account. Your account may get flagged as a pattern day trader if you don’t have a minimum of $25,000 in a margin account and make more than 3-day trades within 5 rolling days. 

Your brokerage firm or online broker may have some restrictions on both cash and margin accounts. Check their criteria for day traders so you don’t miss an opportunity to capitalize on blue-chip stock price fluctuation.

Cash accounts aren’t subject to the pattern day trade rule. However, you need sufficient cash available in the account to day trade blue-chip stocks. 

Margin accounts offer leverage to retail investors. Cash accounts don’t have leverage. Instead, you can only use the cash available in the account.

Any cash earned through a sale is not settled and available for two days following the trade. Hence, the cash in your account should be sufficient to fund the day trade, not only to buy a blue-chip stock but also to pay the service charges. 

Author’s Recommendations: Top Trading and Investment Resources To Consider

Before concluding this article, I wanted to share few trading and investment resources that I have vetted, with the help of 50+ consistently profitable traders, for you. I am confident that you will greatly benefit in your trading journey by considering one or more of these resources.

Conclusion

Day trading has risks. Blue-chip stocks are suitable if you intend to hold on to your investments for a while. Besides, several blue-chip stock prices are steep for many retail investors. Hence, you need the necessary cash or leverage in your account to consider a day trade. 

BEFORE YOU GO: Don’t forget to check out my latest article – ‘Exploring Social Trading: Community, Profit, and Collaboration’. I surveyed 1500+ traders to identify the impact social trading can have on your trading performance, and shared all my findings in this article. No matter where you are in your trading journey today, I am confident that you will find this article helpful!

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    Navdeep Singh

    Navdeep has been an avid trader/investor for the last 10 years and loves to share what he has learned about trading and investments here on TradeVeda. When not managing his personal portfolio or writing for TradeVeda, Navdeep loves to go outdoors on long hikes.

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