Learn
Plain-English glossary and the principles behind every term you'll see in this app.
How paper trading works
You start with $10,000 in fake money — the Rookie account. Every buy and sell uses real, live market prices, but no real cash is at risk. Hit +10% to unlock the $50K Phase 1, then $100K, then bigger. The goal: practice making decisions before there's something on the line.
What a strategy actually is
A strategy = an entry rule + an exit rule + a position-size rule. Without all three, you don't have a strategy, you have a hunch. Track which rules made money and which didn't — that's how you learn faster than 99% of traders.
The only thing that matters
Risk management beats stock picking. A trader who picks 50% winners but cuts losses fast can outperform one who picks 70% winners but holds losers. Decide your max loss BEFORE you enter a trade — written down, not in your head.
How to use this app
1. Search a ticker (top bar). 2. Read the chart and key stats — hover any term you don't know. 3. Decide your buy size. 4. Enter the trade. 5. Watch it. Sell when your rule says to, not when you feel like it. 6. Review your history weekly. The patterns will jump out.
Glossary
P/E Ratio
Price ÷ Earnings per share. How much you pay for $1 of profit.A high P/E means investors expect big growth. A low P/E can mean the stock is cheap — or that the company is in trouble. Compare to the sector average, not in isolation.
e.g. If a stock is $100 and earns $5/share, P/E = 20. You're paying $20 for $1 of yearly profit.
Market Cap
Total value of all the company's shares.Price per share × shares outstanding. Tells you how big the company is. Mega cap = $200B+, large = $10B+, mid = $2B–$10B, small = $300M–$2B.
Volume
How many shares traded today.Higher volume = more liquidity = easier to enter/exit without moving the price. If volume spikes way above average, something's happening — news, earnings, or smart money moving.
Avg Volume
Typical daily trading volume.The 3-month average. Compare to today's volume to spot unusual activity.
EPS
Earnings per share.Net income ÷ shares outstanding. The slice of profit attributable to one share. Higher = better.
Dividend Yield
Annual dividend ÷ price, as a %.How much cash the company pays you per year just for holding. Tech often pays 0%. Mature businesses (banks, utilities, REITs) pay 2–6%.
Beta
How much the stock moves vs the market.1.0 = moves with the market. 2.0 = twice as volatile. 0.5 = half as volatile. Tech stocks usually 1.2–2.0. Utilities ~0.5.
Change
Today's price move in dollars.Current price minus previous close. Pair with % change for context.
% Change
Today's price move as a percent.More useful than $ change for comparing stocks at different prices.
Previous Close
Where the stock closed yesterday.The reference point for today's % change. After hours moves don't count toward this.
Open
Today's opening price.Often gaps up/down from previous close due to overnight news or earnings.
Day's Range
Today's low and high.Tight range = consolidation. Wide range = volatility, often around news.
52-Week Range
The lowest and highest price in the past year.Where the stock sits in this range matters. Near 52-week high = momentum. Near 52-week low = either a value play or a falling knife.
Avg Cost
Your blended purchase price for this position.When you buy more, the average is recalculated. If you buy 10 @ $100 then 10 @ $120, avg cost = $110. Your P&L is measured against this.
Unrealized P&L
Paper gains or losses on your open positions.(Current price − avg cost) × shares. Not real until you sell.
Realized P&L
Actual gains/losses from trades you've closed.Locked in. The compound of all your sells.
Buying Power
Cash you have available to buy stock.In paper trading, this just equals your cash. Real brokerages may add margin.