Yes, WeBull lets you buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs

WeBull's fractional share feature lets you purchase a portion of a stock instead of buying a whole share. This means you can own a piece of expensive stocks like Amazon or Berkshire Hathaway without needing thousands of dollars. You can buy fractional shares through WeBull's standard trading interface — there is no separate process or account type required.

Fractional shares trade during regular market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays when the market is open). You cannot buy fractional shares during pre-market or after-hours trading windows. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the stock, but WeBull typically allows purchases as small as $1 per order.

WeBull also offers fractional shares of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which work the same way. This is useful if you want to own a small piece of a diversified fund without committing a large amount of money upfront.

Key Takeaways

  • WeBull allows you to buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs during regular market hours with no minimum share quantity.
  • You can start with as little as $1 per order, though the exact minimum may vary by security.
  • Fractional shares trade only during standard market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), not during pre-market or after-hours sessions.
  • Fractional shares appear in your portfolio and can be sold at any time, just like whole shares.

How to place a fractional share order on WeBull

Open the WeBull app or website and search for the stock or ETF you want to buy. Tap or click on the security to open its detail page. You will see a "Trade" button — select "Buy" to open the order form.

In the order form, you have two options: enter a dollar amount or enter a share quantity. If you enter a dollar amount (for example, $50), WeBull will calculate how many fractional shares that buys at the current price. If you enter a share quantity (for example, 0.5 shares), WeBull will show you the dollar cost. Choose whichever method feels clearer to you — the result is the same.

Review the order details, including the estimated cost and any applicable fees. WeBull does not charge commission on stock or ETF trades, so you pay only the price of the shares themselves. Tap "Submit" or "Place Order" to send the order. During market hours, fractional share orders typically fill within seconds at or near the price you saw when you placed the order.

What happens to fractional shares when you sell or transfer them

You can sell fractional shares anytime the market is open, using the same process you would use to sell whole shares. Open the stock detail page, select "Sell," and enter either a dollar amount or a share quantity. WeBull will convert fractional shares to cash at the current market price.

If you transfer your WeBull account to another brokerage, fractional shares may be handled differently depending on the receiving firm. Some brokerages round fractional shares up to the nearest whole share before the transfer, while others may sell them for cash and transfer the proceeds instead. Contact WeBull's support team before initiating a transfer if you hold fractional shares and want to know exactly what will happen.

If your WeBull account is closed, any fractional shares you own will be sold at market price, and the cash will be returned to you or held according to WeBull's account closure procedures.

Fractional shares and dividends

When a company pays a dividend, you receive a payment proportional to the fractional shares you own. If you own 0.5 shares of a stock that pays a $2 dividend per share, you receive $1. Dividend payments appear in your account as cash, which you can use to buy more shares or withdraw.

Some stocks pay dividends monthly, quarterly, or annually — the schedule depends on the company. WeBull will show you the dividend payment date and amount on the stock's detail page under the "Dividends" section. You do not need to do anything to receive the dividend; it is paid automatically if you own the shares on the record date.

Tax reporting for fractional shares

Fractional shares are treated the same as whole shares for tax purposes. When you sell fractional shares at a profit, you owe capital gains tax on the difference between what you paid and what you sold them for. When you receive a dividend on fractional shares, that dividend is taxable income in the year you receive it.

At the end of each tax year, WeBull provides a tax document (Form 1099) that reports your sales and dividends. This document lists each transaction separately, so fractional share sales appear alongside whole share sales. Keep records of what you paid for each fractional share purchase so you can calculate your gain or loss accurately when you sell.

Restrictions and things to know about fractional shares on WeBull

Fractional shares cannot be sold during pre-market (4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) or after-hours (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) trading. If you place a sell order for fractional shares outside regular market hours, the order will be held and executed when the market opens the next trading day.

Some stocks are not available for fractional share purchase. WeBull typically restricts fractional shares on penny stocks (stocks trading below $5), stocks with very low trading volume, or securities that are newly listed. If you try to buy fractional shares of a restricted stock, WeBull will show you an error message and require you to buy whole shares instead.

Fractional shares do not give you voting rights at shareholder meetings, even though you own a piece of the company. Only whole shares carry voting privileges. If you want to vote on company matters, you would need to own at least one whole share.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up automatic investments in fractional shares?

WeBull does not offer automatic recurring investments (sometimes called "dollar-cost averaging" features) through the main app. You must place each fractional share order manually. However, you can set price alerts to remind yourself when to buy, or use a calendar reminder to purchase on a regular schedule.

What is the smallest amount I can invest in a fractional share?

WeBull typically allows fractional share purchases starting at $1, though the exact minimum may vary by stock. High-priced stocks like Berkshire Hathaway Class A (which trades for tens of thousands of dollars per share) can be purchased in very small fractional amounts. Check the order form for the specific stock you want to buy to see the minimum.

Do I pay different fees for fractional shares than whole shares?

No. WeBull charges no commission on fractional share trades, just as it charges no commission on whole share trades. You pay only the market price of the shares themselves. Some stocks may have a small bid-ask spread (the difference between the buy and sell price), but this applies equally to fractional and whole share orders.

What happens if I own fractional shares and the company splits its stock?

If a company announces a stock split, your fractional shares are adjusted proportionally. For example, if you own 0.5 shares and the company does a 2-for-1 split, you will own 1 share after the split. The total value of your position remains the same; only the number of shares and the price per share change.