How to buy Roblox (RBLX) shares from Australia

Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) is an American video game company offering software that lets people build games. Roblox generates revenue from its users through the sale of virtual currency called Robux, which can be used to unlock experiences and buy clothing, accessories, and emotes for their avatars.

This guide takes you though the step-by-step process of buying Roblox shares from Australia.

Founded in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, Roblox has headquarters in San Mateo, CA. The company launched its IPO in March 2021, on revenues of over $620 million in 2020. Similar stocks Roblox include Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), and Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA).

Step 1: Pick a broker

To access the market and trade Roblox shares, you need to open and fund an account with a broker. Here is everything you need to look for when choosing a trading platform.

Commission-free trading

Many brokers have migrated towards a zero-commission model to compete with mobile investment apps.

Fractional share trading

Some shares are more expensive than others. Fractional shares give you exposure to price action while giving you the flexibility to diversify your holdings and de-risk.

Low account fees

Broker fees eat into your profits. Compare the fee schedules from your shortlist of brokers to get the best deal.

Margin trading

Margin may be extended to you at some brokers to help you grow your account quickly. However, if the price drops, you may have to post maintenance margin to cover the loss on the loan.

Real-time data and charts

Most trading platforms don't come with live market data. You'll need to check the subscription costs for real-time market data.

Step 2: Fund your trading account

Bank transfers and debit cards are widely accepted ways to fund your account. Some brokers — but not all — accept credit cards. When you fund a new broker account, it may take a little longer for those funds to clear since the broker may have to carry out have additional verification checks. However, subsequent deposits usually clear much faster. It's important to keep this in mind if you want to make a time-sensitive trade.

Step 3: Decide your investment amount

Your risk appetite is the most important part of establishing your trading strategy and trading plan. Only risk money that you can afford to lose.

Most seasoned day traders agree that placing more than 5% of your total account balance in a single trade is a bad idea. Avoid the temptation to put all of your account into a single trade, no matter how confident you are.

Step 4: Choose between a share of stock or ETFs

You can choose between buying Roblox shares outright or purchasing an ETF. An exchange-traded fund is a financial vehicle that contains a weighted basket of shares in a sector or geography and can be traded much like you would an individual company's stock.

An ETF with exposure to Roblox — examples include Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK), Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF (META), and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) — will give you exposure to price action for Roblox while distributing your risk across the performance of several companies.

Step 5: Set up your order

Once funds have cleared into your account and you've decided what you want to invest in, it's time to place an order. You can configure it in line with your desired outcome.

Market order

With a market order, you buy Roblox shares at the next price quoted to you by the market. However, if you want to enter at US$50, and you're using a market order, your broker might fill you at a different price. This disparity between the price you wanted and what you paid is known as "slippage."

Limit order

The limit order is a great way to offset slippage in your trading by entering the maximum price you're willing to pay. The broker won't execute at any price above this limit. As a result, you never get slippage on your orders. However, in fast-moving markets, the broker may only partially fill your order due to price volatility.

Stop limit

This order type is another automated tool for cashing out with your profits when you hit your price target. For example, you buy Roblox at US$50 and set your stop limit for US$75. When the price reaches this level, the broker automatically triggers the sell order.

Stop loss

If you're a new trader, this order type can prevent you from incurring a substantial loss by selling out of your position if the share drops to a specified price.

Step 6: Place the order

After settling on the right order type to manage your trade, it's time to execute your trading plan. If you open your trading platform, you'll see fields you need to complete before placing your order.

Enter the ticker symbol (RBLX), complete the other remaining fields with your share size, and then the limit order price you're willing to pay for the stock. Click the buy button, and the broker will execute your order.

Roblox is part of the tech and gaming sector. It's also one of the leading names in the emerging metaverse economy. Watch for press releases, company announcements, and earnings reports for price volatility and trading opportunities.

Since Roblox is distributed through App Stores, it's worth tracking news for Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), especially given their control of the distribution channel. Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) is also investing heavily in the metaverse, so look out for announcements from them that may lead to more interest in the space.