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Margin Call

Written By

James Barra

Written By

James Barra

James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.

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Edited By

Jemma Grist

Edited By

Jemma Grist

Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.

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Fact Checked By

William Berg

Fact Checked By

William Berg

William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.

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Updated

Oct 2, 2024

A margin call occurs when the value of a trader’s account drops below the broker’s required threshold. Failing to meet a margin call can be costly and lead to positions being automatically closed. This guide explains how a margin call works, steps to satisfy an alert, plus tips for avoiding margin calls.

What Is A Margin Call?

A margin call is issued when the value of securities in an account falls below a certain level. By definition, it is a demand or notice from a brokerage to bring your account balance back to the minimum maintenance requirement. The alert can be satisfied by depositing additional funds or securities.

Importantly, the value of stocks or assets used as collateral for the margin loan will fluctuate with market conditions. However, the amount you borrowed stays the same. As a result, if the value of your assets falls, your equity in the position comparative to the size of your margin debt will shrink.

The types of margin calls and requirements are typically based on the type of asset you are speculating on and your account profile. The automated alert issued by your broker should provide an instant summary of requirements that need to be met as quickly as possible.

Example

Let’s take a look at an example of a margin call in action…

A trader invests $5,000 into a live account and borrows a further $5,000 from their broker. This means a total of $10,000 can be invested in various financial assets. The requirements of the loan include a maintenance margin of 40%.

Now let’s say the investor decides to purchase 100 shares in company A trading at $100 per share. Below is a simple equation to show when a margin call could be activated:

• Price formula: Margin loan / (1 – maintenance margin)
• Example: $5,000 / (1 – 40%) = $8,333.33

This essentially means that if the market value of the account falls below $8,333.33, the trader could face a margin call. This translates to a share price of $83.33 in company A.

After investing for a few weeks, company A faces media backlash for failings in its supply chain, the result of which is that the share price falls to $70. The value of the investor’s account is now only worth $7,000 (100 * $70) and the trader would need to make up the $1,333 ($8,333 – $7,000) to avoid a margin call.

Fortunately, the top online brokerages integrate a free margin call calculator, meaning you can understand your obligations before opening a position.

How Brokers Issue Margin Calls

Traders are usually notified after the markets close. You should be able to view a summary of your obligations in your account profile, alongside your recent investing history. Alternatively, firms like eToro and E*Trade provide real-time SMS alerts and notifications.

Margin calls are also more likely to be issued during periods of high volatility. And while the call percentage can vary, most brands require a minimum maintenance margin of around 30-40% to keep leveraged positions open. This should mean you have enough money to fund the present value of the position and cover running losses.

We recommend reviewing a broker’s margin account terms and conditions before signing up. Check the allocated settlement time of a margin call, what will happen if you can’t settle today, plus their liquidation rights.

Margin Accounts

Margin calls only apply to investors that hold a ‘margin account’. This is essentially where firms lend traders cash to purchase stocks or other financial assets in return for a small capital outlay.

Importantly, buying securities with borrowed capital means clients can open larger positions and increase potential returns. With that said, margin trading is a high-risk strategy because you are responsible for paying associated interest rates and any additional costs to borrow the money. Losses are also amplified due to larger position sizes.

It’s worth pointing out that not all assets are available under a margin account. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), for example, does not allow options contracts to be purchased by retail traders on a margin account.

Brokerages and regulators may also enforce maximum borrowing amounts. Webull, for example, allows retail investors to borrow and trade up to three times their account equity. In addition, FINRA’s Federal Reserve Board Regulation T, states that a company can only lend traders up to 50 percent of the total purchase price of a stock.

Margin Accounts Vs Cash Accounts

A cash account only allows you to spend the money you deposited. This means returns are limited but so too are potential losses. In contrast, a margin account affords you greater purchasing power in return for taking on debt.

Unlike traditional loans, margin traders do not typically have to follow an established repayment schedule. Instead, it is the trader’s responsibility to maintain an account balance and value in line with the broker’s minimum requirement.

How To Satisfy A Margin Call

There are two main ways to satisfy a margin call:

• Deposit more funds in your account to meet the maintenance level
• Sell securities in your margin account or purchase securities to cover short positions

How To Avoid A Margin Call

A margin call can have serious financial implications and firms may take decisive actions to increase the equity in your account. To avoid margin calls, consider the following tips:

• Diversify – A diverse portfolio should limit the likelihood of one severe decline triggering a margin call that affects your entire account. Also bear in mind that focusing on particularly volatile assets, such as cryptos, could leave you open to sharp price swings.
• Use less margin – While brands may offer you generous purchasing power and margin rates, there is no requirement to use it all. Borrowing just 20%, for example, can still improve your buying power without dramatically increasing your exposure to the adverse impacts of a margin call
• Prepare for volatility – Budget carefully to make sure you have a comfortable amount of cash available should your investments suffer from a sudden price shift
• Use Tools – A free margin calculator is provided by the best platforms, including XM. These tools can be used to work out potential margin requirements on various assets and products

Final Word

A margin call is issued to notify traders that the value of their account has fallen below the broker’s minimum threshold. Failing to meet a margin call can lead to serious losses with brokerages automatically closing positions at short notice. Use our guide above to understand what to do if you get a margin call.

For beginners, you can find out more about margin trading. You can also view reviews and ratings of margin brokers.

FAQs

What Does It Mean To Have A Margin Call?

A popular term in finance news headlines, a margin call occurs if your account falls below the maintenance requirement. You will receive a alert or notification from your broker to take action. This may mean adding funds to your account or closing positions to level your account back to the required threshold. Examples of firms with margin accounts include Plus 500, WeBull and eToro.

How Long Do You Have For A Margin Call Resolution?

The time that investors must respond to a margin call will vary between online brokers. US firms, for example, typically allow between 2 and 5 days (T+2/T+5) to meet the call and increase funds within accounts.

What Time Are Margin Calls Issued?

Most brokerages issue margin calls before trading opens on the day after the account fell below the minimum threshold. Margin calls are generally based on the value of accounts at market close because many regulatory bodies require end of day valuations on retail trader accounts.

How Can I Avoid A Margin Call?

There are various risk management strategies you can employ to reduce the likelihood of receiving a margin call. This includes setting up price triggers, diversifying your portfolio and monitoring positions daily. Note, that firms may liquidate assets to level account balances if a margin call is not met.

Margin Call Vs House Call, What’s The Difference?

A margin call is a broker-initiated instruction that requires traders to deposit more cash or securities into their margin account when the value of the account falls below a defined percentage. A house call is an alert from a brokerage that an investor’s margin account is currently below the minimum maintenance level.

Is A Margin Call Good Or Bad?

A margin call is best described as a caution that you need to increase the balance and value of your account. It is neither good nor bad but can indicate significant price volatility in an asset. You might need to deposit cash or additional securities into your account. Alternatively, you may be required to sell securities to increase the ratio of assets you own entirely vs the amount borrowed.