Headquartered in San Francisco, Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) is a leader in interactive entertainment that connects the world through games.
More than 1 billion gamers have interacted with Zynga franchises including Zynga Poker™, CSR Racing™, Empires & Puzzles™ and Merge Magic! ™. Its games are available in over 150 countries and are playable across mobile devices and social platforms.
A pioneer in social gaming, ZNGA is growing into a rapidly expanding gaming market, and the stock remains attractively priced. Learn how to buy ZNGA stock today.
How to Buy ZNGA Stock Summary:
Follow these steps when you’re ready to hop in on the ZNGA train:
- Pick an online broker. An online broker can help you invest in the ZNGA stock, even if you’re still a rookie. But understanding your trading needs is the key to finding the best broker. Do you need in-depth educational resources to guide your trading or do you want a platform that lets you trade on-the-go?
- Open and fund your account. Once you’ve settled on a broker, proceed to register a trading account. Take your time to set up the trading environment, which includes downloading the broker’s desktop or mobile app-based trading platform. Don’t forget you’ll need to load your account with cash to start placing trades.
- Buy ZNGA stock. Account set up complete? Funded? You’re ready to start monitoring and trading ZNGA stock.
How to Buy ZNGA Stock
While you may not expect a pioneer in social gaming to be on your stocks under $20 list, you may still consider Zynga Inc. a bargain at its current price. Here are steps you should follow to buy ZNGA stock.
- Pick a brokerage.
There’s no shortage of online brokers to choose from, but Benzinga maintains a comprehensive list of the top trusted players.
An online broker lets you trade stocks and other securities. While most brokerages will let you trade commission-free, others charge higher commissions to facilitate the execution of your trades. Opening and funding a trading account online is simple. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg — you’ll want more from your online broker.
For starters, consider the account minimums. Some platforms have no minimum balance requirements, while others have higher account minimums. Some may hit you with a penalty for not maintaining your account minimum. Assess the account minimum requirements, and choose a broker you can work with.
Think about how you want to execute your trades. If you spend most of your time at your desk, find a brokerage with a web-based or desktop platform. If you prefer trading with a single tap, look for a brokerage with a mobile app. User experience is crucial, and most online brokers design trading platforms to streamline your investment process.
Sure, you want to start trading ZNGA stock today, but do you have the right information about the company? Most online brokers can help facilitate your trading with in-depth educational resources, analysis tools and research. These offerings may come in handy if you’re still making baby steps into the world of stock trading or don’t want to do market research on your own.
It’s also a good idea to choose a brokerage that offers 24/7 customer support, whether it’s via live chat or phone. You don’t want to be stuck with a problem for hours just because customer support is unreachable. Test the waters by contacting a platform’s customer service before you create a trading account. - Decide how many shares you want.
Your budget — and overall trading strategy — determine the number of shares you can buy. For beginners, the rule of thumb is simply “put in the money you can afford to lose.”
For instance, if you want to invest $1,000 in ZNGA’s stock currently trading at $10, you’ll own 100 shares of the company. Be sure to review your buy order since your broker isn’t responsible for any errors you make. - Choose your order type.
We like to look at a stock order as the gateway from idea to action. It’s where you pull the proverbial trigger, where the market opportunity gets real.
Most online brokers support the following order types:
Bid
A bid or bid price is the highest amount of money you’re willing to pay for the ZNGA stock. If ZNGA trades at $10, you can set the bid price to $8. As soon as the stock’s market price falls to $8, your buy order executes.
Ask
The ask price is the lowest amount of money you’re willing to accept for the sale of your security. For instance, if ZNGA is currently priced at $10, you can set an ask price of $12. Your order is automatically executed as soon as ZNGA’s market price rises to $12.
Spread
Spread is the difference between the highest and lowest amount of money you’re willing to accept for a security. It’s the difference between the bid and ask price. If the bid price of ZNGA is $8 and the ask price is $12, the spread is $4.
Spreads get broader when stocks have fewer buyers and sellers and tighter when there are many buyers and sellers.
Market Order
A market order lets you buy or sell shares immediately at the next available price. If you’re placing an order to buy, it will get fulfilled at the next available ask price. Market orders typically have priority over other order types — they generally complete instantly during regular trading and extended trading hours.
This order type is ideal when you want to trade stocks quickly or avert partial fills — they’re all about immediacy.
Stop Order
A stop order is an order to buy or sell ZNGA once its price reaches a specific level, known as the stop price. When the stock attains your stop price, the stop order now becomes a market order. You’d typically place a stop order to help mitigate potential losses, in case the stock price moves in the wrong direction.
Limit Order
A limit order technically means you want to buy or sell ZNGA stock at a specific price or better. With a buy limit order, your purchase is executed at your limit price or lower. A sell limit order sells your stock at the limit price or higher.
Remember, limit orders aren’t guaranteed to execute. If there aren’t sufficient shares in the market at your limit price, it may take multiple trades to fill the order or it may not be filled altogether.
Stop Limit Order
A stop limit order is a hybrid order that combines the features of a limit order and stop order. When a stock hits the stop price that you set, a limit order is triggered. Your limit order is then executed at your limit price or better.
Traders often leverage stop limit orders in an attempt to limit the amount of loss or protect a profit in case the stock price moves in the wrong direction. - Execute Your Trade
Once you’ve decided the number of shares you want to buy and the order type, you can execute a trade on your online broker.
Remember, the execution of your order only occurs when it's filled and not when you place it. A few reasons your order might not have been filled yet include:
- Limited volume
- Market open conditions
- Extended hours
- Unstable market conditions
Best Online Stock Brokers
Comparing brokerage offerings should help you identify the perfect fit for your needs. Remember, commissions may apply — you don’t want to end up paying a high annual fee in the disguise of commission-free trades.
ZNGA Stock History
ZNGA was originally organized in April 2007 as a California limited liability company under the name Presidio Media. It was later converted to a Delaware corporation in October 2007.
In November 2010, it changed its name to Zynga Inc. The company has since expanded with locations in Canada, U.K., Finland, Ireland, Turkey, and India.
ZNGA completed its initial public offering in December 2011, with its Class A common stock listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol ZNGA.
In May 2018, ZNGA converted all of its outstanding shares of Class B and Class C common stock into shares of Class A common stock, most of which are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of its stockholders. Zynga Inc. has never declared or paid any cash dividend to its Class A common stock and currently sits at 11.799 billion market capitalization.
Pros to Buying ZNGA Stock
ZNGA stock is a luring pick among stocks selling at a discount in the gaming arena. With games available in more than 150 countries, ZNGA is gaining traction in the interactive entertainment space. And with mobile gaming the norm for most mobile users, Zynga could be a commanding force in the niche.
Free-play gaming is also the wave of the future, and the shift to free-to-play is real and taking place. That could indicate huge potential for firms like Zynga and provide a positive outlook for the stock.
Cons to Buying ZNGA Stock
For starters, ZNGA doesn’t issue dividends to its shareholders. This may make it less appealing to the long-term investor who depends on dividends as a source of passive income.
Operating in a mobile game sector characterized by frequent product introductions, rapidly emerging mobile platforms and new technology, Zynga faces significant competition in all aspects of its business. Zynga has a tough time wrestling it out with bigger players like Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts and DoubleU.
Keep an Eye Out for ZNGA
ZNGA might be a name you’ll rarely encounter in most stocks under $20 picks, but it’s an intriguing pick for anyone who wants to immerse in the mobile gaming arena. Consistent in its free-to-play business model, Zynga is a key player in the mobile gaming revolution — though it’s tough to bet on whether ZNGA is destined for long-term revenue growth.
Connect with an online broker and buy ZNGA stock today.