How to Buy Groupon Stock

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Contributor, Benzinga
August 16, 2024

Get right to it: Invest in Groupon stock using Interactive Brokers as your online broker.

The number of consumers buying online goods and services in the United States (U.S.) hit a record high in 2023. According to some sources, between 75% and 80% of U.S. consumers bought products online. While companies like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) are well known, other companies such as Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) have become increasingly relevant in the e-commerce space. Are you thinking of how to buy stocks right now, or perhaps you want to invest in Groupon? This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to purchase the stock. 

Groupon connects consumers and merchants, offering a variety of products and services at discounts via its online store. It offers consumers daily deals in the form of online vouchers from local merchants. Groupon also sells products directly to consumers. It generates revenue from the take rate on the purchase and use of vouchers (40% of total revenue) and from direct sales (60% of total revenue). More than 65% of Groupon's revenue comes from North America.

Groupon 2023 revenue was $514.9 million and gross profit was $450.7 million. It has over 3,500 employees. This article explains how to add Groupon Inc. stocks to your shopping cart and how market participants can participate in the retail sector.

How to Buy Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) Stock

Numerous e-commerce stocks list on stock exchanges in the U.S. However, in comparison to Amazon, eBay, Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY), Groupon is cheap and offers a wider variety of products. If you take the 52-week trading price average, you will find that Groupon’s share price hovers around $20, while Amazon, eBay and Etsy trade over $201, $57, and $89 respectively. For new investors who may not have a huge budget to invest, you may be looking for a cheaper alternative with solid fundamentals. Groupon not only provides solid fundamentals, but it has also differentiated itself from other e-commerce giants by selling a range of products and services at affordable prices. With this in mind, you may be thinking of buying Groupon stock. Here are simple steps you can take to buy Groupon stock from the best brokers

Step 1: Pick a Brokerage

Buying stocks is easy, but you’ll want to do some research before taking the plunge. The easiest way to buy stocks is through an online broker. After opening your account, you can buy a wide range of stocks through the broker’s app in a matter of minutes. 

It is easy to open and set up a brokerage account. You complete an application for your account and provide proof of identification and funding information. You transfer funds into your brokerage account electronically or by mailing a check. 

Step 2: Decide How Many Shares You Want

You need not buy hundreds of shares all at once; over time, you can add additional shares and begin trading more of the same stock or any number of stocks you choose. You can also add more financial instruments as needed. New stock investors can consider fractional shares, a relatively new offering from online brokers that allows you to buy a portion of a stock rather than the full share. Fractional shares let you own expensive stocks like Amazon or Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) that trade at $3,500 and $160 respectively. 

What that means is you can get into pricey stocks — companies like Amazon that are known for their four-figure share prices — with a much smaller investment. SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI), Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) and Charles Schwab Corp. (NYSE: SCHW) are among the brokers that offer fractional shares. However, Groupon is relatively cheap, so you could buy a few shares to begin with and increase your holdings based on how the stock performs in the market. 

Step 3: Choose Your Order Type

Choose from two basic order types: market orders and limit orders.

Market Orders

With market orders, you purchase or sell stock at the current market price. Your order will probably be executed and filled quickly. Don't be surprised if the price you pay — or get if you're selling — isn't the same as the one you were given just seconds before. Throughout the day, bid and ask prices move continuously. That's why a market order is appropriate for buying stocks that don't have huge variations in price, such as large, stable blue-chip corporations rather than smaller, more volatile businesses.

Limit Orders

You have more control over the price at which your trade is executed when you use a limit order. If the stock is trading at $100 per share, and you believe a price of $95 per share is in line with how you value the firm, your limit order instructs your broker to only execute your order when the price falls to that level. Remember, private companies in any sector are volatile, and you want to avoid major price fluctuations with a limit order.

Step 4: Execute Your Trade 

An executed trade occurs when a buy or sell order gets filled. The act of buying the share is what is referred to as executing your trade.

Where to Buy Groupon Stock

There are many online brokers, so you decide which broker is most suited to your needs. If you're an active trader aiming to beat the market, you probably already know what you're looking for in a brokerage: minimal fees, premium research, cutting-edge strategy tools and a robust trading platform. Below is a compilation of the best online brokers in a range of categories so you can pick one that meets your needs.

Groupon Stock History & Value

Groupon has held steady in the last year. At first glance, the stock has performed poorly but this trend is partially driven by restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant portion of Groupon sales come from services ranging from travel, holidays and experiences. As such, COVID-19 held back the stock somewhat. Before the pandemic, the stock was trading between $33.60 and $21. However, in the last 52 weeks, it traded between $8.08 and $ 19.58 with a market cap of $545.26 million. As illustrated in the chart below, the share price is currently trading below the 50-day moving average of $14.86.

Groupon-Stock-Chart-as-of-Aug-2024

Low-interest rates in the U.S. caused a stock market rally, inciting concerns of a bubble. However, a good measure of the overvaluation of a stock is a comparison between its price to earnings (P/E) ratio and its share price. If a stock’s price is trading at 50 times its earnings, it is likely to be overvalued. By this measure, Groupon is not overvalued. Groupon's share price traded between $8.08 and $ 19.58 in the last 52 weeks. Its P/E ratio of $0 suggests that the stock is not overvalued. 

Pros and Cons of Groupon 

Investing in Groupon stock can be a beneficial decision, but it is important to carefully consider both the advantages and disadvantages associated with it. Here are some key points to consider:

Pros

  1. Potential for growth: Groupon still has a large user base and brand recognition. If the company can successfully pivot its business model or expand into new markets, there could be significant upside potential for investors.
  2. Undervalued stock: Some analysts believe Groupon's stock is currently undervalued based on its assets and revenue. This could present a buying opportunity if the company's performance improves.
  3. Cost-cutting measures: Groupon has been implementing cost-cutting strategies to improve profitability. These efforts could lead to better financial results and increased investor confidence.

Cons

  • Declining business model: Groupon's core daily deals business has been struggling in recent years. The company faces challenges in adapting to changing consumer preferences and increased competition.
  • Financial instability: Groupon has reported inconsistent financial results and has struggled with profitability. This volatility increases the risk for investors and makes the stock's future performance uncertain.
  • Dependence on economic conditions: Groupon's business is sensitive to economic downturns, as consumers tend to reduce discretionary spending during tough times. This makes the stock vulnerable to broader economic trends and market fluctuations.

Is Groupon a Buy, Sell or Hold?

Determining whether Groupon is a buy, sell, or hold ultimately depends on various factors such as current market conditions, company performance and individual investment goals. It is essential to conduct thorough research, analyze financial data and consider the long-term prospects of the company before making any investment decisions. By carefully evaluating all aspects of Groupon's business model and growth potential, you can make informed choices that align with your financial objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Does Groupon pay a dividend or have a Direct Stock Purchase Plan?

A

Groupon does not currently pay dividends on Class A shares and does not offer a Direct Stock Purchase Plan.

Q

What are some key competitors of Groupon in the market?

A

Some key competitors of Groupon in the market include LivingSocial, Amazon Local, and Google Offers.

 

Q

When was Groupon's IPO?

A

Groupon went public with its IPO on November 4, 2011.

 

Henri Kouam

About Henri Kouam

Henri Kouam is an economist and machine learning enthusiast. He currently builds Machine Learning models to help clients across Europe forecast a range of asset classes such as cryptocurrencies while working with, the Nkafu Policy Institute, an African-based think tank to help inform economic policy. He equally works as a consultant for NY-based ”Global Wonks”, where he has named wonk of the week twice due to his actionable intelligence on North America.