Most investors in Turkey start with BIST stocks, familiar companies, familiar headlines. But nearly all of the world's largest companies trade on US exchanges, and accessing that market is easier than it looks. In this article, we explain how to invest in US stocks, where to start, and what to watch for.
Why look at US stocks?
US exchanges (NYSE and Nasdaq) have the highest trading volume and the widest range of companies in the world. In sectors like technology, healthcare, energy, and defense, the global leader in that sector is often listed here. Since it's dollar-denominated, it can also serve as a hedge against lira depreciation.
BIST companies and their US counterparts
The easiest way to make US stocks feel familiar is to compare them with BIST companies in the same sector:
FROTO (Ford Otosan) sits in the automotive sector, and Ford (F) is one of the global players in that same space on the US side.
ASELS (Aselsan) sits in defense, and RTX (Raytheon) operates in a comparable field in the US.
THYAO (Turkish Airlines) sits in aviation, and Delta Air Lines (DAL) is a comparable example in the US.
Pairings like these make it easier for someone already following a sector to adapt to its US equivalent.
How do you access US stocks?
There are a few ways to access US stocks from Turkey: international equity accounts offered by some domestic brokers, opening an account directly through an international broker, or investment funds that track these markets. Which method fits best depends on factors like commission rates, minimum investment amounts, and taxation, so it's worth comparing a broker's terms before opening an account.
What to watch for
US markets open in the evening in Turkish time, which means a different schedule for anyone tracking from Turkey. The earnings calendar runs differently from BIST, quarterly results tend to cluster around the middle and end of the month. Currency risk matters too, when you make a dollar-denominated investment and convert back to lira, both the stock's move and the exchange rate move together.
US stocks at TraderLex
We've seen growing interest in US stocks recently, and we've put more weight on that side at TraderLex. We apply the same Elliott wave, Fibonacci, and trend structure to US stocks that we use for BIST and crypto, with a target, a critical level, and an invalidation point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much capital do I need to buy a US stock?
This depends entirely on the broker and the stock. Some platforms allow fractional share purchases, making it possible to start with small amounts.
Can I follow BIST and US stocks at the same time?
Yes, they're different markets trading at different hours, so following both sides at once is entirely possible.
Is the risk different for US stocks compared to BIST?
The risk management principles stay the same, position sizing, stop-loss, risk-reward ratio. But additional factors like currency risk and different trading hours come into play.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.