Section 6 · 9:30 AM Open
Taking Partial Profits
Partial profits buy you patience — and eliminate greed-driven holds
Partial profits buy you patience — and eliminate greed-driven holds.
Selling 25–50% of a winning position at the first target does three things: it banks real money, it removes the psychological pressure of watching a winner fluctuate, and it allows the remaining shares to run further without fear. Traders who never take partials often give back entire winners waiting for the "maximum" exit. Partials are the professional's way of balancing greed and discipline in real time.
3 things to know
Taking partial profit at +5% converts an unrealized gain into realized P&L — it is in your account, safe from reversal.
After taking a partial, move the stop to breakeven. You now have a free trade — maximum downside is zero, upside is unlimited.
Professional traders who use partial exits report higher overall P&L and significantly lower max-drawdown days than those who hold full size.
Dive Deeper
Key vocabulary — tap each card
Practice
First Partial Target Calculator
First partial target (+5%)
$15.75
After first partial, move stop to breakeven — you now have a free trade
Did you know?
After taking your first partial profit, move your stop to breakeven. The remaining shares cannot result in a loss even if the trade fully reverses back to your entry.