Search

Stake Black Review

​Our review outlines the core features of Stake Black, how it compares to Sharesies, Hatch and Tiger Brokers, the likely target audience and frequently asked questions to help you decide if Stake Black is right for you.
Updated 29 April 2024

Note: This review refers to the New Zealand version of Stake Black, which offers enhanced features for US share investing. Stake New Zealand does not offer ASX investing, so the features of Stake Black discussed in this review specifically relate to the US markets. 

Summary
  • Stake is a free-to-register share investing app, reviewed here, that has operated in New Zealand since 2020.
  • Stake Black is a premium subscription beyond the standard Stake app. This is a unique offering, given that Sharesies, Hatch, Tiger Brokers, and other apps don't offer the features Stake Black does. 
  • The cost is NZ$15 per month if paid monthly or NZ$156 (e.g. NZ$13 a month) if paid a year in advance. 
  • Stake Black has specific features that won't be useful for everyone; the subscription model is, we believe, aimed at professional investors who want an all-in-one share investing platform with data-rich analysis available 24/7. 

To help explain Stake Black and let you decide if it's right for you, our guide covers:

Core Features of Stake Black

​Stake Black's features are not exclusive - the information you're provided on every share's dashboard is available from other sources, many of which are free to access. Popular sites include Yahoo! Finance, Simply WallSt, and other market insiders.

1. Instant Buying Power/Available Funds When Selling Shares
  • Stake Black lets you immediately reinvest funds from sold shares without waiting for the usual T+2 settlement period to have access to your money. This feature grants immediate access to funds after sales are executed, helping investors take advantage of market conditions and trade without settlement restrictions. This avoids the issues of time zones and waiting for money to appear back in your account - Stake Black's instant sales proceeds is arguably its best feature. 
  • Our thoughts: This feature is invaluable for anyone wanting to take advantage of timely market opportunities. For instance, if an investor sells Walmart shares and notices a sudden drop in Tesla shares that they believe is temporary, they can quickly use the proceeds to purchase Tesla shares without waiting 1-2 days to get their Walmart share sale money.

2. Full Financials
  • Stake Black lets you directly access detailed financial data for all US shares and ETFs on the platform, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements from the past eight quarters. This consolidates and extends the information you'll otherwise find on Google Finance and Yahoo Finance, making it convenient and allowing for greater focus from an investor without the need to look beyond the app and lose concentration or risk distractions. 
  • Our thoughts: This feature is valuable for conducting in-depth research, and better decisions can be made with two years of data readily available. For example, an investor interested in buying Apple shares could use this data to evaluate its quarterly revenue growth and profitability trends over the last two years to see if it fits within his or her investment strategy.

3. Price Targets
  • Stake Black lets you access analyst price targets for any US share. The data is updated frequently throughout the trading day (Stake claims over 150 updates daily per covered share).
  • Our thoughts: This feature helps investors understand market expectations and analyst consensus on share valuations. For example, if investors are considering investing in Amazon, they can see the latest price targets set by financial analysts, which will help them assess whether the current market price is above or below the consensus targets, indicating potential overvaluation or undervaluation. Overall, price targets help investors better time the market and minimise overpaying for a share that will soon come down in price. 

4. Buy/Sell/Hold Ratings
  • Stake Black lets you view up-to-date buy, sell, or hold ratings from major sell-side banks for all US shares. The ratings are updated three hours before the US market opens each trading day and throughout the trading day. 
  • Our thoughts: This feature provides instant professional sentiment towards a share, which can be crucial for decision-making. For instance, if analysts recently changed their rating on Microsoft from 'hold' to 'buy', it usually signals a positive shift in the company's outlook, and knowing this early will usually help investors beat the market rises if there are more buy orders based on being aware of the ratings. Conversely, if a share's ratings change to a 'sell', investors can act quickly and sell before the market falls further. 

Stake Black vs Sharesies, Hatch and Tiger Brokers

Stake Black offers convenience, insights and useful tools to help you make informed decisions quickly. No other online share trading platform offers this benefit. We look at how the offering compares to other popular platforms such as Sharesies, Hatch and Tiger Brokers below specific to US markets:

Features and Functionality:
  • Stake Black: Offers comprehensive financial data, instant buying power, analyst price targets, and buy/sell/hold ratings. These features cater specifically to users interested in US shares and ETFs and avoid waiting up to 2-3 days to trade again.
  • Sharesies: Sharesies has basic price graphs but offers nothing like Stack Black. However, it's arguable that it caters to inexperienced investors and delivers ease of use and accessibility to invest.
  • Hatch: Focuses on US markets like Stake Black but lacks features like real-time financial analytics and instant reinvestment capabilities.
  • Tiger Brokers: Offers broad market access with a focus on US shares, with some features similar to Stake Black (such as financial data, analyst ratings and price targets), but these are not updated nearly as frequently, and there is a standard two day wait on settlements before you can make another trade.

Subscription and Fees
  • Stake Black: To access its premium features, you must subscribe for NZ$15 per month or NZ$156 annually. Standard trade and FX fees also apply. 
  • Sharesies: There are no ongoing fees, but the app lacks the depth of financial analysis tools offered by Stake Black.
  • Hatch: Like Sharesies, Hatch doesn't charge a monthly subscription fee nor offer the level of data available via Stake Black.
  • Tiger Brokers: Offers a low commission and no subscription charge.

Stake Black's Target Audience - Our View

  • We believe Stake Black is aimed at experienced investors who need in-depth financial analysis and quicker transaction capabilities for US shares. These are investors who want immediate access to their funds when selling shares, taking advantage of market movements and aided by all the data Stake Black provides within the dashboard. We believe this means a different investor base will use Stack Black compared to Sharesies and Hatch, given the absence of any feature crossover. 
  • Tiger Brokers offers more functionality and market insights than Hatch and Sharesies, although it is less advanced than Stake Black. Investors still need to wait for trades to settle before making another investment. 
  • Overall, we see Stake Black as the only service within New Zealand's trading apps that offers instant reinvestment post-sale and frequently updated analyst ratings, which are crucial for fast-paced US share trading. It's a professional tool delivered with a fixed-price subscription fee, meaning investors can use it as much as they like at no additional cost (other than the US$3 trade fees that come with Stake's standard offering and any FX fees if funding an account with NZD). 

Frequently Asked Questions

The information below is specific to Stake Black - for Stake-specific information, please visit our review.

What unique features does Stake Black offer compared to other trading platforms?

​Stake Black provides several exclusive features aimed at active and professional investors, including instant buying power, which allows users to reinvest funds immediately after selling shares, bypassing the typical T+2 settlement period. It also offers comprehensive financial data for US shares and ETFs, up-to-date analyst price targets, and real-time buy/sell/hold ratings, updated three hours before each US market opens.

How does the instant buying power feature work?

The instant buying power feature in Stake Black enables you to use the proceeds from share sales immediately without waiting for the funds to settle, which typically takes two days. This means if you sell shares, you can reinvest those funds right away in other opportunities, enhancing your ability to take advantage of market conditions.

Are there any additional fees associated with using Stake Black?

Yes, aside from the monthly or annual subscription fee, Stake Black users may incur standard trading (US$3) and foreign exchange fees (1% NZD to USD) when making trades and funding their accounts. It's important to review the detailed fee structure on Stake's website to understand all potential costs.

How often are the financial data and analyst ratings updated on Stake Black?

Stake Black updates its financial data and analyst ratings frequently throughout the trading day. Financial data for all US shares and ETFs, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements from the past eight quarters, are accessible directly on the platform. Analyst ratings and price targets are updated over 150 times daily, providing fresh insights for decision-making.

Can I use Stake Black to invest in markets other than the US?

No, Stake Black is specifically designed for US share investing. Stake New Zealand, which includes the Stake Black subscription, does not offer investing options for the ASX or other non-US markets.

Is Stake Black suitable for beginner investors?

Stake Black is primarily aimed at experienced or professional investors who require in-depth financial analysis and rapid trading capabilities. Beginners might find the platform's advanced features overwhelming, but it can also serve as a valuable educational tool for those looking to deepen their investment knowledge.

How can I track the performance of my investments on Stake Black?

Stake Black offers robust tools to track investment performance directly within the platform. Users can access real-time analytics, performance charts, and personalised reports that detail gains, losses, and market trends. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about portfolio adjustments and strategy refinements.

What happens if I decide to cancel my Stake Black subscription?

If you decide to cancel your Stake Black subscription, you can do so anytime. Upon cancellation, you will retain access to the premium features until the end of the current billing period. After this, your account will revert to the standard Stake features unless you choose to renew your subscription.
Related guides