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Dow Hits High As Warren Buffett Boosts This Stock Market Group; Fed Chair Powell Speech Due

8/15/2025 Stocks mostly dipped but the Dow Jones index rose. A speech by Fed Chair Powell is ahead and a Warren…

8/15/2025 Stocks mostly dipped but the Dow Jones index rose. A…

Fees: Commission-free stock, ETF and crypto trades; $3.99 monthly inactivity fee for accounts with less than $70 and no activity over the last six months.

Public is a unique app that lets you invest in U.S. Treasurys and fractional shares of stocks, making it accessible to investors interested in fixed-income or on tighter budgets. It features a social media-like interface where you can follow other investors and see their holdings. You can also search through thematically linked stocks to get ideas and then get input from fellow traders.

Robinhood is best for traders who prefer a mobile-first feel and are looking for a quick way to trade stocks with no commission.

It also features a feed that aggregates articles from news and investing sites, making it easy to stay up on market trends and developments.

Robinhood’s stripped-down app is simple to navigate and will serve the needs of most stock traders well. The app gets you in the game faster: Instead of waiting several days for bank transfers to clear, Robinhood can move up to $1,000 into your trading account immediately. Robinhood Gold members can transfer up to $5,000 instantly.

If you’re looking for a smooth interface and zero trading fees, then Robinhood has everything you need. Whether you’re trading stocks, ETFs, options or cryptocurrency , you’ll be able to do so seamlessly with Robinhood, the app that pioneered zero-commission trades and, some might argue, democratized trading for everyday people.

All of these stock apps are great for beginners and make it easy to start investing in the stock market with little money.

Here are some of the top apps to get you buying stocks in no time.

The best stock market apps let you quickly trade, track your account in real-time, help you learn about the markets and more — all at little-to-no cost.

Looking for the best apps for stock trading to get your money invested in the market? There’s a growing list of apps to choose from, which can make the search intimidating, especially if you’re just starting to invest .

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Why we like Public

Public allows you to invest in fractional shares of stocks, making expensive companies more accessible. Plus, its vibrant social media-inspired interface makes investing feel more interactive: You can see what your friends are trading and discuss stocks in a public forum.

Who is Public best for?

Public is best for new investors looking to be part of a community with other traders while enjoying the flexibility of fractional share investing.

Charles Schwab – Best app for research, account types

Charles Schwab stands out for its robust research capabilities and great customer service. It offers a range of fundamental and technical analysis tools, analyst ratings and comprehensive news feeds — all designed to help traders make informed decisions.

The app is powerful and comprehensive. The intuitive layout and clear menus make navigation and account management a breeze. Schwab also offers fractional shares, so all your money gets invested right away.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $0 per stock or ETF trade; $0.65 per options contract.

Why we like Charles Schwab

While commission-free stock and ETF trades are a plus, the true value lies in the depth of information and investor support Schwab offers.

You’ll also get access to a huge selection of account types to choose from, including individual, joint, IRAs, 529 education accounts, business accounts, trusts and more.

Who is Charles Schwab best for?

Charles Schwab is a good fit for both new and experienced investors alike who want a powerful trading app with zero commission on stocks.

Webull – Best app for margin trading, charting tools

Webull is a solid pick for investors who are looking for a free stock app with a few extra bells and whistles. It caters to new investors while providing a host of features more experienced investors will also appreciate, including charting tools and access to full extended-hours trading.

The app offers fractional share investing and, per industry standard, you’ll enjoy commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs. But unlike many competitors, Webull also offers commission-free trades on cryptocurrency and even options.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $0 per stock, ETF or crypto trade; $0 per options contract.

Why we like Webull

Webull brings a robust and feature-rich app with advanced charting tools, technical indicators and the ability to trade on margin. While the average investor may not need all this, experienced traders will find Webull more versatile than its main rival, Robinhood.

Who is Webull best for?

Webull is best for active traders who want a powerful stock app with no fees, advanced charting tools and margin investing.

Fidelity Investments – Best app for managing money all-in-one

Fidelity Investments is an all-in-one app that lets you do more than just trade stocks and monitor the markets. You can manage nearly every aspect of your financial life in one place and get access to services like an investment account, a checking account, an IRA, bill paying, a savings account, a robo-advisor account and even credit card accounts.

You’ll also get access to a personalized feed of stock market news based on your holdings.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $0 for stock and ETF trades, $0.65 per contract on options.

Why we like Fidelity Investments

You’ll get access to commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs, along with thousands of mutual funds without a transaction fee. If you’re new to investing, you’ll appreciate the broker’s extensive educational resources available on the app. And if you ever need help or have questions about your account, Fidelity’s customer service is top-notch.

Who is Fidelity Investments best for?

Fidelity is best for investors who enjoy managing all of their financial needs in one place with a single login.

E-Trade – Best app for robust trading features

E-Trade was one of the first discount brokers for retail investors, and over 40 years since its launch, the company is still doing a lot right for its customers. This stock app offers a well-designed interface with a good balance of powerful tools and ease of use.

It has a wealth of educational resources and research built-in, making it perfect for beginners who want to learn while they trade. You can trade a variety of securities, and frequent traders can earn a discount on options commissions.

They also offer commission-free stock and ETF trades like most brokers these days.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $0 per stock or ETF trade; $0.65 per options contract, with a discount to $0.50 for 30 or more trades per quarter.

Why we like E-Trade

E-Trade’s app is clean and intuitive, with clear menus and easy-to-use navigation. Real-time quotes, news and research are all readily accessible.

Who is E-Trade best for?

E-Trade is a great choice for investors who want a user-friendly app with commission-free stock and ETF trades.

Ally Invest – Best app for integration with banking

Ally Invest offers a user-friendly platform with a variety of investments, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options and even forex. The company charges $0 for stock and ETF trades, putting it in line with other major stock apps. However, it doesn’t offer fractional share investing.

If you’re already an Ally Bank customer, you can link your accounts for a smoother investing experience. You can easily transfer funds between your checking or savings account and your investment account, perfect for quick and effortless trading.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $0 per stock or ETF trade; $0.50 per options contract.

Why we like Ally Invest

You get access to a variety of investments with the industry-standard no commission for stock and ETF trades plus a low 50-cent commission for options contracts. You can also perform technical analysis with charting tools. Research and account management tools are readily accessible, too.

Who is Ally Invest best for?

Ally Invest is best for Ally Bank customers, or investors who want a combination of investment options and a user-friendly app.

Stash – Best app for round-up auto investing

Stash is a unique stock app aimed at beginner investors. It integrates banking and auto-investing with fractional shares, making it painless to learn and grow your money over time. It also offers a robo-advisor, bank account and retirement accounts in one app, with no commission fees on stocks and ETFs.

While it brings some nice perks, Stash charges an ongoing monthly fee, unlike any other app on this list. Traders investing small sums of money should be aware of how these monthly fees can eat into your returns over time.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $3 to $9 monthly fee

Why we like Stash

The app’s round-up feature sets it apart from others on this list. You can link a debit card to the app, and each transaction will get automatically rounded to the nearest dollar, with the spare change directed to your investment portfolio. This puts your investments on autopilot, so you’re able to buy stocks without thinking about it.

Who is Stash best for?

Stash is best for new investors who want to use the automatic round-up feature.

What to consider when choosing a stock trading app

When it comes to stock apps, think about how you plan to use them. Do you intend to take a buy-and-hold approach or do you want to day trade and play the markets? Some apps offer more advanced research and charting tools, but that’s likely to be too much white noise if you’re only interested in buying and holding a few index funds.

Some apps charge fees that can eat into your investment returns, but most apps on this list have very low costs and offer commission-free trading.

If you’re interested in trading things like options, you’ll want to look for apps that charge fees below the industry standard of $0.65 a contract — or better yet, offer commission-free options trades.

If you’re an experienced trader looking to trade on margin or take advantage of extended hours trading, you’ll want to make sure that’s a feature offered by the app or broker — not all stock trading apps offer these.

Getting started is easy

Investing is cheaper and more accessible than ever, and it requires very little money to get started. Fees are so low or even non-existent that you can start trading stocks with just a few bucks.

So you don’t need thousands, or even hundreds, of dollars to get started. But you’ll need to consistently add money to your account and keep investing in your positions over time in order to build wealth.

How much you contribute depends on your own financial situation and goals. The good news is that each app on this list lets you set up automatic deposits, so you can transfer money to your investments without thinking twice. And since today’s trading apps have made low to no commissions the norm, you’ll have more money in your pocket to actually buy stocks.

FAQs about stock apps

What is the best stock app for beginners? Mobile trading apps tend to be well-suited for new investors because they generally offer a simpler, more streamlined interface. This can make them easier to navigate than their online or desktop counterparts. Each app on this list would serve a new investor’s needs, so the best one for you depends largely on your trading needs and investment goals.

What’s the best app for free stock trading? There isn’t a single “best” app for free stock trading because many popular options (including all the ones on this list) now offer commission-free trades. When comparing apps, see if the company charges any miscellaneous or one-time fees, such as a fee to transfer money out of or close your account.

What information do you need to start using a stock app? When you create an account on a stock app, you’ll need to provide some personal information like your name and Social Security number as well as your contact information. You also need to upload a valid government-issued ID to verify your identity, and link your banking details to the app so you can fund your account.

— Bankrate’s Lisa Dammeyer contributed to an update of this story.

Seasonally adjusted sales numbers for retail and food services totaled $715.4 billion in May, according to the Census Bureau, a 3.3% increase year over year. June’s numbers, which are slated to be released on July 17, are expected to show a month-over-month gain of between 0.1% and 0.3%. Core retail sales, which excludes autos, gasoline, building materials and food, may grow even faster with Bank of America estimating a strong 0.9% increase.

Despite challenges like high interest rates, tariff uncertainties and an inflation rate that remains stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s target, consumer spending is proving very resilient. A strong labor market, low unemployment and slow but steady wage growth seem to be supporting the consumer and allowing for robust spending even in this uncertain economy.

Concerns about future tariffs may also be helping retail sales. Tariff anticipation has prompted some preemptive buying – especially in durable goods – as individuals and businesses seek to avoid the price hikes they fear President Donald Trump’s trade war may eventually bring. This pull-forward demand should continue until the president’s tariff policy becomes more certain.

Another bright spot for retail has been the incredible strength in e-commerce. Online sales in May were up over 8% year over year and are expected to keep climbing.

It’s clear that retail is a growing business, and modern retailers are well able to adapt and innovate in our dynamic economy and this rapidly changing retail environment. In short, retail – whether in the consumer discretionary or the consumer staples sector – is an industry no investor can afford to ignore.

The retailers and discount retailers on the following list merit consideration by any investor interested in retail. It includes some of the biggest and best names in the industry, and all of them are taking full advantage of the ongoing trend toward online shopping. Adding retail exposure to your portfolio is a smart move, and this timely list is a great place to start your research:

Retail Stock Market Capitalization* P/E Ratio (TTM)** Amazon.com Inc. (ticker: AMZN) $2.4 trillion 36.4 Home Depot Inc. (HD) $353 billion 24.1 Burlington Stores Inc. (BURL) $15.8 billion 30.1 Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) $424 billion 54.3 Dollar General Corp. (DG) $25 billion 21.3 Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $42 billion 20.2 Walmart Inc. (WMT) $757 billion 40.6

*As of July 15 close.

** Trailing-twelve-month price-earnings ratio .

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 promotion ran from July 8 to July 11, and it was a success. Without releasing specific numbers, the company reported its biggest Prime Day ever, with more sales than any four-day period that included a Prime Day in its history. According to Adobe Analytics, that translates to estimated sales of over $24 billion, which is a more than 30% year-over-year gain over the last Prime Day event. To put that number in perspective, that’s more than double the company’s Black Friday 2024 sales.

With a market cap of $2.4 trillion, AMZN is the world’s largest retailer by revenue. It’s a retail powerhouse, to be sure, but it’s also a leading technology company. The company’s Amazon Web Services, or AWS, division is an industry-leading cloud computing platform, offering computing power, cloud storage and artificial intelligence (AI) driven machine learning to large and small businesses, high-tech developers and governments for building and scaling enterprise applications.

The bottom line is this: No retail tech investor should be without exposure to this mega-cap stock.

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Home Depot Inc. (HD)

HD is a $353 billion hardware, home improvement and building materials retailer with about 2,000 big-box stores in the U.S. and another roughly 300 locations in Canada and Mexico. It’s a bellwether stock all investors should consider owning.

HD sells building materials, lawn and garden equipment, large and small appliances, tools, home improvement products, water heaters, cabinets, air conditioning systems and just about anything else a homeowner or building contractor could need. It also rents trucks, trailers, tools and equipment for use by the day.

In addition to its brick-and-mortar outlets, HD has a thriving online business that operates through its mobile application or its websites which include homedepot.com, blinds.com, srsdistribution.com, heritagelandscapesupplygroup.com and heritagepoolsupplygroup.com.

This retailer regularly generates over $40 billion a quarter in revenue and has a current dividend yield of 2.5%.

Burlington Stores Inc. (BURL)

In a research report dated May 30, BofA Equity Analyst Lorraine Hutchinson reiterated the “buy” rating she maintains on BURL, setting a $350 price target for the stock. If BURL trades up to that target, it would mean 39% appreciation from the stock’s July 15 closing price of $251.90.

Hutchinson’s recommendation and aggressive price target is based on the fact that BURL has embarked on a large-scale transformation grounded in better execution, discount store fundamentals and a focus on smaller stores. She believes the stock is well-positioned for profit margin improvement and stock price outperformance over the long run.

BURL is a $15.8 billion discount retailer with over 1,000 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It offers branded and off-brand merchandise, including apparel, accessories, shoes, toys, gifts and outerwear. The company is named after the town of Burlington, New Jersey, where it was founded in 1924 as Burlington Coat Factory and where it still has its headquarters.

BURL was late in embracing e-commerce, but is now making headway with its website burlington.com where customers can shop, get updated on the latest deals, find store locations and take advantage of curbside and home delivery.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST)

Any credible list of the best retail stocks will include COST. This company has been a leader in the big-box warehouse retail space for 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Many Wall Street analysts agree. Morgan Stanley has an “outperform” rating on the stock, while BofA Securities and Loop Capital both maintain a “buy” rating on the name.

COST operates warehouse-style membership clubs in over 900 locations in the U.S. and around the world. Membership fees start at about $65 and top out at about $130 annually, and the company’s 133 million members worldwide seem happy to pay them. In fiscal 2024, club dues accounted for over $4.8 billion in company revenue.

Costco stores offer groceries, apparel, electronics, books, health and beauty products and much more. It encourages its customers to save money by buying in bulk, which is good for sales and good for shoppers.

The stock pays a modest 0.5% dividend.

Dollar General Corp. (DG)

On June 2, DG released financial results for its 2025 fiscal first quarter, and the numbers were encouraging. The company’s sales and earnings rose 5% and 8% respectively on same-store sales growth of 2.4%. Management also provided guidance pointing to 2025 sales growth of between 3.7% and 4.7%.

Investors may be surprised to learn that DG has over 20,000 locations in urban population centers around the U.S. This $25 billion retailer is a premier name in the discount retail space. The company’s locations are designed to be part convenience store and part department store. They offer snacks and cold drinks as well as household goods, casual apparel, health and beauty items, kitchen items and more. Some locations even sell beer, wine, tobacco products and lottery tickets.

The company drives customers to its stores with the intelligent use of its website, where shoppers can find exclusive coupons, view weekly and daily specials and, in many locations, take advantage of home delivery and in-store pick up.

The stock closed at $113.22 on July 15, but BofA Equity Research Analyst Robert Ohmes thinks DG is selling at a discount to its peers. Ohmes has a “buy” rating on the stock with a $135 price objective, which, if it eventually trades at those levels, would mean 19% upside from there.

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST)

On July 2, Jefferies Securities upgraded ROST from “hold” to “buy.” Jefferies joins BofA Securities and Loop Capital, who also have a “buy” on the name. Barclays, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan are fairly bullish on ROST as well. Those firms all have the stock rated “outperform.”

ROST is a discount and closeout retailer known for selling off-priced, but high-quality, apparel and home fashions at its brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. The company’s target market is middle-income consumers who are both fashion-conscious and price-conscious. They sell clothes, accessories, footwear and small home furnishings at discounts of 20% to 60% in a pleasant retail atmosphere.

ROST has about 1,700 locations and is reporting slow but steady increases in foot traffic to its stores. The company purposefully does not offer an online shopping option, but that does not mean it is not using mobile apps and the internet to drive consumers into its stores. The company’s website provides information on promotions, current inventory and store locations.

Walmart Inc. (WMT)

Walmart trails only Amazon in retail revenue. This blue-chip stock was founded 80 years ago by retail pioneer Sam Walton and has been going strong ever since.

WMT operates in the U.S. through its Walmart USA segment, it runs its global operations through its Walmart International division and competes with Costco in the warehouse club space through its Sam’s Club segment. All in, WMT has more than 10,600 stores, including 4,600 in the U.S.

This company has a store size to fit all markets. It has large-scale supercenters, small neighborhood markets and intermediate stores that fit nicely in between.

The e-commerce industry is continuously growing worldwide. With each passing day, new e-commerce markets emerge, while established markets reach new milestones. Are you interested in setting up an online store or monitoring e-commerce trends? Well, here’s a look at the biggest global e-commerce markets (in terms of sales) by country, according to Statista data. We’ll also pinpoint the world’s largest online retailers and highlight global e-commerce trends and compound annual growth rates (CAGR). This way, businesses better understand the e-commerce landscape today and in the future.

Largest e-commerce markets worldwide

Global e-commerce sales are astronomical — and some countries making a significant splash in the space may surprise you. Here are the top 10 countries ranked by annual online sales. Note that if you plan to do business in one of these markets you should familiarize yourself with legal challenges for e-commerce businesses in each particular location. This practice can help you stay on the right side of local laws.

Tip Bottom line If you’re operating an online store, offering multiple e-commerce payment options — including digital wallets and electronic funds transfers — can help drive sales.

1. China

China is the world’s biggest e-commerce market, led by the Alibaba group’s e-commerce subsidiaries Taobao, Alibaba.com and Tmall. With other multibillion-dollar revenue brands like JD.com, Pinduoduo (owner of Temu) and Shein, China is also one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets. It boasts an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 7.62 percent.

Annual online sales: $1.47 trillion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 9.95 percent

FYI Did you know Alibaba is also a popular private label manufacturer that connects brands to businesses that can create the products they want to sell.

2. United States

After long ruling the online sales world, the U.S. is currently the second-largest e-commerce market. Led by e-commerce giants Amazon, Walmart, Apple and eBay, the U.S. observes healthy e-commerce growth in all sectors and has, for the most part, been the innovation house for e-commerce trends.

Annual online sales: $1.22 trillion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 8.99 percent

3. Japan

Japan’s online spending per head is much lower than that of the top two countries. However, its large population of 125 million pushes it into third place. Rakuten is Japan’s leading e-commerce platform, with $15.43 billion in revenue. Other domestic players like Yodobashi achieve high annual revenues as well.

Annual online sales: $169 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 9.23 percent

4. United Kingdom

In recent years, the United Kingdom was in third place. However, due to a slower e-commerce sales growth rate, it has been surpassed by Japan. Yet, despite its small size, the U.K. is a big e-commerce player and comfortably secures fourth place on this list. Amazon UK, eBay UK and Asos are among the country’s leading online brands. The country has one of the highest percentages of total retail sales in e-commerce. Sainsbury’s and Tesco, two of the country’s dominant supermarket chains, both exceed $7 billion each year in online sales.

Annual online sales: $130 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 7.8 percent

5. Germany

Germany is Europe’s second-largest e-commerce market. Amazon is a major player in this market, as are eBay and local online retailers Otto and Zalando.

Annual online sales: $98 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 8.23 percent

6. South Korea

South Korea dropped down in rankings but is still a key player when it comes to e-commerce. The country’s biggest e-commerce names include Coupang, Naver, Gmarket, SSG and Himart.

Annual online sales: $80 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 4.47 percent

Did You Know? Did you know The Asia Pacific region is the world’s leading global e-commerce market in terms of revenue

7. France

Amazon France generates impressive annual revenues, nearing $7.5 billion. Local favorites include online “flash sales” site Veepee, general retailer Cdiscount, entertainment and consumer electronics leader Fnac, and supermarket giant Carrefour.

Annual online sales: $66 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 8.1 percent

8. Canada

Canada is a massive e-commerce market dominated by American brands like Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Costco. Homegrown favorites like Canadian Tire and classified ads site Kijiji also post high revenues.

Annual online sales: $66 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 9.76 percent

9. Italy

Italy’s e-commerce market has expanded significantly in the last few years. Much of that growth has been driven by food, health and beauty, and beverage and tobacco sales. Some of the largest e-commerce companies in Italy by annual revenue include popular names like Amazon Italy and Zalando Italy.

Annual online sales: $64 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 9.94 percent

10. India

Amazon India is a big player in the country. Additionally, numerous homegrown brands like Myntra, IndiaMART, Meesho and JioMart are experiencing rapid growth. The country’s internet economy may reach $1 trillion by 2030 as the Indian middle classes increase substantially.

Annual online sales: $59 billion

E-commerce CAGR (2024 to 2029): 11.45 percent