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The Daily Insight Hub

Is it safe to buy stocks on OTC?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on December 27, 2025

The primary risks involved in trading over-the-counter (OTC) stocks are two-fold. One, there is usually a lack of reliable information about the company. OTC stocks allows investors to buy a lot of shares for little money, which could turn into large sums should the company become highly successful.

Why are OTC stocks dangerous?

With OTC NASDAQ stocks you can expect trading volume to be much lighter and less competitive compared to listed stocks and with this you will also experience wider spreads. This makes getting fills at good prices harder and if you have any size it could be difficult to exit a position which could result in huge losses.

How does OTC trading work?

In an OTC market, dealers act as market-makers by quoting prices at which they will buy and sell a security, currency, or other financial products. A trade can be executed between two participants in an OTC market without others being aware of the price at which the transaction was completed.

What is the difference between OTC and NASDAQ?

NASDAQ is a stock exchange, while OTC refers to over-the-counter stock trading, which involves a network of dealers trading stocks directly with each other. Both formats involve risk, but OTC particularly requires you to have the stomach to face it.

Can you make money on OTC stocks?

If you do this, then OTC trading can be very profitable. You have the advantage over all other penny stock traders, because most of them will not study OTC stocks, or invest in them, until good news is already out on them.

Why you should never trade OTC?

Plenty. Per the Securities and Exchange Commission: “Academic studies find that OTC stocks tend to be highly illiquid; are frequent targets of alleged market manipulation; generate negative and volatile investment returns on average; and rarely grow into a large company or transition to listing on a stock exchange.”

Can a stock go from OTC to NYSE?

Over-the-counter securities are not listed on an exchange, but trade through a broker-dealer network. Companies can jump from the OTC market to a standard exchange as long as they meet listing and regulatory requirements, which vary by exchange.

How do I buy OTC stock?

The best way to buy an over-the-counter (OTC) stock is to create an account with a broker. Many, but not all, brokerage firms that allow you to trade on the stock market also let you trade OTCs. OTCs cannot be purchased directly from the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) or the OTC Markets Group.

Can you make money with OTC stocks?

Can you day trade OTC?

Investors can day trade penny stocks, which some experts consider to be stocks priced under $5, but is more often defined as stocks priced less than $1. Penny stocks aren’t sold on the major exchanges and instead are found on exchanges such as the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) and the Pink Sheets.

What happens if I own a stock that gets delisted?

If a stock is delisted, the company may still trade over two different platforms, namely: the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) or the pink sheets system. As a result, individual investors have less data on which to base their investment decisions, often causing such stocks to drop off their radar screens.

Why can’t I buy OTC stocks?

Because OTC stocks often trade at low volumes and may not have many outstanding shares, it can be difficult to immediately buy and sell the stock. You may not be able to buy or sell at exactly the price you want or exactly when you want, so take this into consideration when making your investment decisions.