CFD Stock Trading

Many British investors use CFD stock trading to derive benefit from the price movements in various companies’ values. When trading CFDs, investors do not own the underlying stocks in question and can leverage positions. This 2025 guide covers everything that you need to know about CFD stock trading, including a detailed analysis of the most popular equities in the UK market. Read on for a list of the best online brokers and tips for implementing a CFD stock trading strategy.

CFD Stock Trading Explained

A Contract for Difference or ‘CFD’ is a product that stipulates that the buyer will either pay or be paid the difference between the original price of the asset at the time of purchase, and the price at the time the contract is closed. With CFD stock trading, traders can go long or short. This means that they can make a profit based on whether they think the value of the stock in question will rise or fall.

When trading CFDs, investors do not own the underlying asset. For example, if you purchase a CFD relating to the value of National Grid shares, you do not actually own any of the stock: the CFD merely tracks and mimics its value. This means that the trader can speculate on short-term price movements of an asset without the hassle of having to hold or sell the actual stocks later on.

When a CFD is purchased and closed, the profit or loss is calculated from the difference between the value of the stock at the time of purchase and closing. Some brokers also choose to add a spread. This means that if a trader were to buy and close a CFD straight away, they would make a net loss. Moreover, most CFD brokers charge some form of commission when both opening and closing the contract, which is usually around 0.1%.

Trade Example

CFD stock trading is best explained through an example…

In this scenario, a trader is looking at the Vodafone Group which has stock currently trading at a sell/buy price of £1.19/1.20. They believe that the price is going to rise in the short term and therefore they decide to invest in CFDs. As they think the price is going to rise, they purchase 10,000 units going long on the Vodafone Group. The broker offers a 5% margin rate, so the trader must put down a deposit of £600 (5% x (10,000 units x £1.20)).

When the trader checks the value four hours later, they notice that Vodafone Group is now trading at a sell/buy price of £1.25/1.26. The trader makes a quick decision to close the trade at this point and lock in some profit. This is calculated by taking the difference between the price at purchase and closing, in this case, £0.05 (£1.25 – £1.20) and multiplying it by the number of units, 10,000, to give a gross profit of £500.00.

However, like most online brokers in the UK, there is a commission charge of 0.1% for each CFD contract opened and closed. To open the contract, the trader is charged a commission of £12.00 (0.1% x (10,000 units x £1.20 buy price at purchase)), while to close it they are charged a commission of £12.50 (0.1% x (10,000 units x £1.25 sell price at close), giving a total commission of £24.50. This leaves the investor with a net profit of £475.50.

CFD Trading VS Share Trading

CFD stock trading and spot share trading may seem similar, but there are some fundamental differences between the two. When you spot trade stocks, you directly purchase shares in a company, which means that you own a part of that company. If the company performs well, you will receive a range of benefits such as dividends. The downside of spot trading is that if the value of the company drops, you will lose money.

Spot trading is best used for long-term trading when you believe the value of a company is going to increase over a long period. If you are interested in short-term price movements, CFD stock trading is worth considering. With a CFD, you can decide whether to go long if you think the price will rise, or go short if you believe it will fall.

It is much easier to execute trades quickly when trading stock CFDs, making it perfect for anyone who is interested in day trading. CFDs also allow you to trade with leverage, so that you can borrow money from the broker and potentially boost your profits. However, as you do not own the stocks, you will not receive any dividends or voting rights.

UK Stock Market Key Players

The United Kingdom is home to some of the largest companies in the world, with many of them listed and traded on the London Stock Exchange. Here are the top ten companies on the FTSE 100 index along with their 2022 market cap in GBP:

1. AstraZeneca – 170.50 billion
2. Shell – 149.37 billion
3. HSBC Holdings – 107.35 billion
4. Unilever Group – 97.57 billion
5. GlaxoSmithKline – 91.07 billion
6. Diageo – 80.22 billion
7. British American Tobacco – 76.27 billion
8. BP – 73.76 billion
9. Rio Tinto Group – 61.03 billion
10. Glencore – 56.79 billion

Benefits Of CFD Stock Trading

• You can use CFDs to hedge against standard stock holdings
• You can trade CFDs with leverage
• You can go long or short
• Fast execution speeds

Drawbacks Of CFD Stock Trading

• You do not own the stocks and therefore you will not have any voting rights
• You will not receive dividends if the stock performs well
• Leverage can lead to large losses

Getting Started With Trading Stock CFDs

1. Select a broker: Before you can start, you need to choose which CFD stock trading broker to use. There are a few different things to consider before you make your decision. Check out the various fees, spreads and commissions charged by each brokerage to find the best deal. Also try to find an online broker that offers a CFD stock trading demo account, which will allow you to practise and get used to trading contracts for difference before you enter the live markets. Other things to consider include customer service hours, brand reputation and the stock markets they offer access to.
2. Research the market: Most UK brokers will offer access to stocks listed on the FTSE as well as other popular markets from around the world. There is no perfect fit, you simply have to find an asset that suits you and that you have researched sufficiently. If you are a new trader, it could be worth opting for one of the larger companies listed in the top ten UK stocks section. Experienced traders may prefer to trade smaller but more volatile companies.
3. Choose the direction of your trade: One of the main benefits of CFD stock trading is the ability to go long or short. This means that you can make a profit based on whether you believe the value of a stock will rise or fall. If you think it is going to increase, you should go long and purchase a buying CFD. If you believe that it will drop, purchase a selling CFD.
4. Select the number of units: Choose the number of units you would like to purchase. If you are trading with leverage, more units will require a larger deposit. Leverage also runs the risk of building up large losses.
5. Utilise risk management tools: To protect yourself, you should implement risk management tools. Add a stop-loss order to limit losses, as well as a take-profit order to guarantee closure at a target price.
6. Monitor and close: Once you have placed your trade with risk management tools set up, you can monitor the price. Either close the deal when you are happy with the price, or wait for it to hit a target price and close automatically through your take-profit order.

Bottom Line On CFD Stock Trading

CFD stock trading is used by many investors as a way of speculating on and benefiting from the price movement of a company’s shares. Investors can use CFD stock trading to hedge against their stock portfolio, or they can simply use it in a bid to earn a profit. CFD stock trading can also be combined with leverage to boost earnings, but remember that leverage trading can also lead to large losses.

If you are interested in getting started with trading stock CFDs, check out our list of top brokers and follow this guide.

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