Limit Order
Limit Order
An order to buy or sell a security at a specified price or better. Buy limit orders execute at the limit price or lower; sell limit orders execute at the limit price or higher. Limit orders guarantee price control but do NOT guarantee execution. If the market never reaches the limit price, the order remains unfilled.
An investor wants to buy XYZ stock currently trading at $52, but only if it falls to $50 or below. They place a buy limit order at $50, which will only execute if the stock trades at $50.00 or lower (e.g., $49.95, $50.00). Conversely, an investor holding ABC stock trading at $58 wants to sell but only at $60 or higher. They place a sell limit order at $60, which will only execute if the stock reaches $60.00 or higher (e.g., $60.00, $60.25). In both cases, execution is not guaranteed if the market never reaches the specified price.
Students often confuse which direction "or better" applies: for buy limits, "better" means LOWER prices (buying cheaper is better); for sell limits, "better" means HIGHER prices (selling for more is better). Another common error is assuming limit orders guarantee execution. they only guarantee the price IF the order executes. If the stock never reaches your limit price, the order remains unfilled. Many also confuse limit orders with stop orders (which become market orders when triggered) or stop-limit orders (which combine both features).
How This Is Tested
- Identifying when a limit order will execute based on the limit price and current market price
- Determining appropriate order type based on client priority (price certainty vs execution certainty)
- Comparing limit orders to market orders in terms of execution guarantee and price control
- Understanding the price control vs execution guarantee tradeoff with limit orders
- Recognizing scenarios where limit orders may never execute in fast-moving markets
Regulatory Limits
| Description | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Limit Order execution rule | Limit price or LOWER | Executes at specified price or better (lower) for buyer |
| Sell Limit Order execution rule | Limit price or HIGHER | Executes at specified price or better (higher) for seller |
Example Exam Questions
Test your understanding with these practice questions. Select an answer to see the explanation.
Maria wants to purchase 200 shares of TechCo stock, currently trading at $87 per share. She is willing to buy the stock but only if she can get it at $85 or less. She is not in a hurry and is comfortable waiting for the right price. Which order type should Maria use to achieve her goal?
B is correct. Maria should use a buy limit order at $85. This order will only execute if TechCo trades at $85.00 or lower (the limit price or better for a buyer means lower prices). This gives Maria exact price control, ensuring she pays no more than $85 per share. Since she is not in a hurry and can wait for the price to reach her target, the lack of execution guarantee is acceptable.
A is incorrect because a market order would execute immediately at the current price of $87, which exceeds Maria's maximum acceptable price of $85. Market orders prioritize execution certainty over price control. C is incorrect because a sell limit order is used when selling shares, not buying them. Additionally, the direction is backwards (sell limits execute at the limit or higher). D is incorrect because stop orders are typically used to trigger purchases when prices rise above a threshold (buy stop) or protect against losses (sell stop), not to set maximum purchase prices. A stop at $85 would trigger when the price falls to $85, then execute as a market order (potentially at any price).
The Series 65 exam tests your ability to match order types to client priorities. When a client prioritizes price control over execution speed and can tolerate the risk of non-execution, limit orders are appropriate. Understanding buy limit mechanics (executes at limit or LOWER) is critical for structuring client orders correctly.
Which statement accurately describes the key characteristic of a limit order?
C is correct. The defining characteristic of a limit order is that it guarantees price control (execution at the limit price or better) but does NOT guarantee execution. If the market never reaches the specified limit price, the order remains unfilled. This is the fundamental tradeoff: price certainty versus execution certainty.
A describes a market order (guarantees execution but not price), not a limit order. B is incorrect because limit orders do NOT guarantee execution at all. they only execute IF the market reaches the limit price, which may never happen. D is incorrect because no order type guarantees both immediate execution AND price control. Market orders provide immediate execution without price control; limit orders provide price control without execution guarantee.
The Series 65 exam frequently tests understanding of the price control vs execution guarantee tradeoff. Limit orders are the classic example of prioritizing price over speed. You must recognize that clients using limit orders accept the risk their orders may never fill in exchange for controlling the price they pay or receive.
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Access Free BetaAn investor places a sell limit order for 100 shares of ABC stock at $62 per share. ABC is currently trading at $60. Under which market condition will the sell limit order execute?
C is correct. A sell limit order at $62 will execute when the stock trades at $62.00 or HIGHER. For sell limit orders, "or better" means higher prices because the seller wants to receive more money. The order will fill at $62.00, $62.50, $63.00, or any price above $62, but NOT at any price below $62.
A is incorrect because $60 or lower is below the $62 limit price, and sell limit orders do not execute below the limit. B is incorrect because $61.00 is still below the $62 limit price. While $61 is close, it does not meet the "limit or better" requirement for a sell order (which means $62 or higher). D is incorrect because limit orders do not execute immediately at the current market price unless that price meets the limit condition. Since the current price ($60) is below the sell limit ($62), the order will NOT execute yet.
The Series 65 exam tests your understanding of when limit orders execute. You must know that sell limits execute at the limit or HIGHER (seller wants more money), while buy limits execute at the limit or LOWER (buyer wants to pay less). The direction of "or better" depends on whether you are buying or selling.
All of the following statements about limit orders are accurate EXCEPT
C is correct (the EXCEPT answer). This statement is FALSE. Limit orders do NOT guarantee execution regardless of how close the limit price is to the current market price. Even if the limit is within 1% of the market price, execution is not guaranteed. The order will only fill if and when the market actually trades at the limit price or better. There is no percentage threshold that guarantees execution.
A is accurate: limit orders allow investors to specify the maximum price they will pay (buy limit) or minimum price they will accept (sell limit), providing exact price control. B is accurate: this correctly describes the execution rules for both buy limits (limit or lower, meaning better for buyer) and sell limits (limit or higher, meaning better for seller). D is accurate: if market conditions never bring the security to the limit price, the order will remain unfilled indefinitely (or until canceled). This is the fundamental risk of limit orders in exchange for price control.
The Series 65 exam tests your understanding that limit orders prioritize price over execution. No matter how aggressive the limit price, execution is never guaranteed. Only market orders guarantee execution (at whatever the market price is). Understanding this tradeoff is critical for order type suitability and client education.
A client places a buy limit order for 500 shares of XYZ stock at $48 when the stock is currently trading at $50. Which of the following statements about this order are accurate?
1. The order will execute immediately at the current market price of $50
2. The order will execute if XYZ trades at $47.50
3. The order guarantees the client will pay no more than $48 per share IF it executes
4. The order may never execute if XYZ never trades at $48 or lower
C is correct. Statements 2, 3, and 4 are accurate.
Statement 1 is FALSE: The order will NOT execute immediately at $50 because $50 is above the $48 limit price. Buy limit orders only execute at the limit price or LOWER, and $50 does not meet this condition. The order will remain pending until the stock falls to $48 or below.
Statement 2 is TRUE: The order will execute if XYZ trades at $47.50 because $47.50 is below the $48 limit price. Buy limit orders execute at the limit or lower (better for the buyer means lower prices), so $47.50, $47.00, or any price at or below $48 would trigger execution.
Statement 3 is TRUE: The limit order guarantees price control. If the order executes, the client will pay $48 or less per share, never more. This is the primary benefit of limit orders: controlling the maximum purchase price (for buy limits) or minimum sale price (for sell limits).
Statement 4 is TRUE: Since the stock is currently at $50 and the limit is $48, the order will only execute if the market falls by $2. If XYZ never reaches $48 or lower (for example, if it rises to $55 or stays at $50), the order will remain unfilled indefinitely. This is the risk of limit orders: no execution guarantee.
The Series 65 exam tests comprehensive understanding of limit order mechanics: execution rules (buy limit = limit or lower), price control benefits (guaranteed maximum/minimum price), and execution risks (no guarantee of filling). You must distinguish between what limit orders guarantee (price) and what they do NOT guarantee (execution). This multi-dimensional understanding is essential for evaluating order type suitability.
💡 Memory Aid
Buy Limits = Lower Limit (you want to buy for LESS, so the limit is your ceiling). Sell Limits = Soar Higher (you want to sell for MORE, so the limit is your floor). Remember: Limit orders control the PRICE (guaranteed limit or better) but NOT the EXECUTION (may never fill). Think "Price Perfect, Execution Uncertain."
Related Concepts
This term is part of this cluster:
More in Order Types
Where This Appears on the Exam
This term is tested in the following Series 65 exam topics: