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What is a Margin Loan?

Murray Anderson
Murray Anderson

A margin loan or a margin account is a loan made by a brokerage house to a client that allows the customer to buy stocks on credit. The term margin itself refers to the difference between the market value of the shares purchased and the amount borrowed from the brokerage. Interest on the margin loan is usually calculated on the outstanding balance on a daily basis and charged to the margin account. As time goes by, the outstanding debt goes up and interest charges accumulate. Also, the brokerage holds the securities as collateral for the loan.

A simple example of a purchase on margin might be an investor buying stocks with a market value of $10,000 but only using $5,000 of their own money. The other $5,000 would be provided by the brokerage as a margin loan.

Sounds straightforward, but margin loans aren't simple.

Sophisticated investors may use a margin loan to increase their personal wealth.
Sophisticated investors may use a margin loan to increase their personal wealth.

If you want to trade on margin, the first thing you need to do is open a margin account. By law, this requires an initial investment of at least $2,000. But that amount could be more, depending on the brokerage house's own rules to open the account. This set up amount is known as the "minimum margin". Once your account is open, you can then borrow up to 50% of the price of any stock you want to purchase. Understand, you don't have to borrow the full 50%; the amount you borrow can be less than 50%. The 50% "down payment" is called your initial margin. As long as stock prices stay stable or go up and you make your interest payments your life will roll along smoothly.

However, you need to be aware of what is known as "maintenance margin", in case stock prices drop. According to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) anyone who buys stocks on margin must maintain a minimum of 25% of the total market value of the securities that are in the margin account. Some brokerages demand an even higher percentage.

Falling share prices could take your account below the minimum threshold and the brokerage house will require you to put in more cash or securities to bring your stake up to the minimum. The call from the brokerage demanding these incremental funds is known as a "margin call". Depending on the terms of the margin loan agreement you originally signed with the brokerage, they even may have the legal right to sell securities out of your account without consulting you, to get the back to the maintenance minimum.

Undoubtedly, margin accounts allow an investor to gain control of a large block of stock at a minimal investment. Sophisticated investors will use a margin loan to increase their personal wealth by using the "leverage" provided by using borrowed money.

However, if share prices go the wrong way, the investor with the margin loan, is not only liable for the money borrowed but also maintaining their margin account minimum. Now, leverage is working the other way and the falling share prices combined with the outstanding margin loan can cause an investor significant financial hardship.

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Discussion Comments

myharley

I think trading on margin should come with limitations and should only be for experienced investors. I understand the idea of leverage and buying power, but feel that for small investors this could be a poor personal finance choice. If someone does not really understand how the market works, they could end up in trouble quickly.

It is up to each individual how they want to trade, but I would sure do my homework and do a lot of paper trading before investing real money in a margin account.

Trading with margin can give investors a lot of leverage, and that also comes with a lot of risk that must be closely managed.

julies

The key word to remember about the term margin loan is that it is a loan - and loans have to be paid back. Another thing to remember is that when you borrow on margin, your broker will also charge you margin loan interest. When you receive your tax information at the end of the year, this will be shown on your statement. It is also shown on your monthly statements.

Using margin to buy stock can give you a lot more leverage and the ability to purchase more stock, but if you are long the stock and it goes down by a large amount, you may be issued a margin call to come up with more money to meet the regulation standards.

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    • Sophisticated investors may use a margin loan to increase their personal wealth.
      By: Antonioguillem
      Sophisticated investors may use a margin loan to increase their personal wealth.