How to Buy and Sell Stocks and ETFs on Public

For new and intermediate investors alike, learning how to navigate investment platforms is crucial. Public is one of those platforms that has made buying and selling assets more accessible than ever. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of how to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Public, using real examples and practical explanations based on a typical user experience. This article covers everything from searching for a specific asset to placing buy or sell orders, while also reviewing key features of the asset page to help you make informed decisions.

Getting Started: Find Your Asset

The first step in order to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Public is locating the asset you want to trade. From your dashboard, navigate to the search bar located in the top-middle portion of the screen. This is your main entry point for browsing any stock, ETF, or other security available on the platform.

For this example, let’s say you’re interested in purchasing the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, known by the ticker SCHD. Type “SCHD” into the search bar and select the appropriate listing from the results.

Analyzing the Asset Page

Once on the asset’s page, you’ll be presented with a variety of useful data points and tools to help you understand the performance of the stock or ETF:

• Price chart showing the asset’s daily performance.
• Key statistics such as dividend yield, expense ratio, and 52-week price range.
• Top holdings of the ETF, especially relevant for diversified funds like SCHD. In this case, holdings include well-known companies such as AbbVie, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Texas Instruments.
• Historical returns, including an “average annual return” table that displays the long-term performance of the ETF.

This kind of detail allows you to evaluate the overall stability, income potential, and past behavior of your investment. In the example given, SCHD consistently offers an average return of over 10% annually, which can be compelling for long-term investors.

Placing a Buy Order

Now let’s walk through how to buy your selected asset. Scroll back up to the top of the asset page and look at the right side of the screen. Here you’ll find two purchase options:

• Buy in dollars – allows you to purchase fractional shares.
• Buy in shares – allows you to specify an exact number of shares if you have enough funds.

Assume you have $30 available and want to buy one full share of SCHD. Simply enter “1” next to the number of shares, double-check your input, and then click “Review Order.”

You may notice a small popup or mention of a tip feature. This isn’t standard practice on most investment platforms, and many users choose to skip this. Once reviewed, click “Submit Order” followed by “Done.” You’ve now completed your buy order.

Shortly after, you can return to the dashboard, where your account value and current portfolio holdings will be displayed. Your new investment should now appear in the list of owned assets.

Placing a Sell Order

To sell an ETF or stock on Public, return to your portfolio dashboard and click on the asset you wish to sell—here, it’s SCHD again. This action will take you back to the asset’s main profile page.

Next, click “Sell SCHD” in the upper-right corner.

You’ll then choose the amount to sell, either:

• A specific dollar amount, such as $10, or
• The entire share (or number of shares you currently own).

After selecting your amount, click “Preview Order.”

As with the buy order, there is a small transaction fee, in this example, around 2 cents. A popup asking for a tip may also appear again, which many investors choose to ignore.

Finally, click “Submit Order” to finalize the sale. Your remaining balance and portfolio will be updated accordingly.

What Makes the Platform Easy to Use?

Public offers a clean interface and user-friendly structure. Whether you’re trying to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Public using fractional shares or whole shares, the process is intuitive.

Key benefits include:

• Simple navigation via the top search bar.
• Clear display of financial data, including risk metrics, yield, and return history.
• Support for recurring purchases, useful for dollar-cost averaging.
• Option to buy with cash or shares, making it easy to start with as little or as much as you want.

Though the inclusion of a tip request during transactions may feel unusual or unnecessary, it does not interfere with the functionality of executing trades.

Practical Example Recap

Here’s a summary of the full process to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Public, using SCHD as an example:

To Buy:

1. Type “SCHD” into the search bar.
2. Review the asset information and performance.
3. Scroll to the top-right corner and choose to buy in dollars or shares.
4. Input your amount or number of shares.
5. Click “Review Order,” then “Submit Order.”
6. Return to dashboard to view your portfolio.

To Sell:

1. From the dashboard, click on SCHD.
2. Click “Sell SCHD” on the top-right.
3. Choose dollar amount or entire share.
4. Click “Preview Order,” then “Submit Order.”

Each of these steps takes only a few moments and can be done via desktop or mobile.

Why People Choose to Buy and Sell Stocks and ETFs on Public

Whether you’re investing in large-cap companies, dividend ETFs, or niche sectors, the ability to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Public with ease is part of what makes this platform attractive.

Investors often start with ETFs like SCHD due to:

• Diversification: Exposure to 100+ companies.
• Dividend potential: Ideal for long-term passive income.
• Historical performance: Over 10% average annual returns in many cases.

Meanwhile, the transparent interface helps people feel more confident when making investment decisions, even without years of trading experience.

Final Thoughts

Investing doesn’t have to be complicated. Platforms like Public make the process straightforward, especially for those looking to manage their portfolios without excess friction. From searching for an asset to executing trades and monitoring performance, everything is streamlined.

Whether you’re interested in long-term dividend ETFs or individual company stocks, knowing how to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Public gives you the freedom and flexibility to build your own investment journey at your own pace.

Use the asset tools, skip the tip popups if they bother you, and stay informed. Most importantly, take the time to research what you’re buying—because with every order you submit, you’re shaping your financial future.