Short-Term vs Long-Term Investors (2024)

Learn more about investing for the short term and for the long term

Over 1.8 million professionals use CFI to learn accounting, financial analysis, modeling and more. Start with a free account to explore 20+ always-free courses and hundreds of finance templates and cheat sheets.

Start Free

Who are Short-Term Investors vs Long-Term Investors?

In this article, learn more about short-term investors vs long-term investors. Short-term investors are investors who invest in financial instruments intended to be held in an investment portfolio for less than one fiscal year. Conversely, long-term investors represent people investing in long-term financial instruments that they hold for more than one year.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Investors (1)

Short-term investment instruments can be ultra-short-term bonds maturing in less than one year, capital or convertible notes, investments into money markets (e.g., buying and selling currencies), etc.

On the other hand, long-term investors aim to hold investment vehicles, such as stocks, bonds, or derivative contracts for several years.

Short-Term Investing vs Long-Term investing

Short-term investments and long-term investments are different in nature and thus carry different expectations. When an individual makes an investment in something to keep for many years, they expect the investment to increase in value.

Once the investment, say, a stock, appreciates in value, the holder sells it off in the open market to profit from the price appreciation. On the other hand, when someone intends to make an investment to earn in the short term, the person or entity may consider short-term investment vehicles, such as a certificate of deposit (CD), bridge loan, capital note, etc.

Typically, short-term investment vehicles are purchased to provide a higher degree of principal protection.

So, short-term and long-term investments meet different needs at different times of life. Young people who are just starting out their careers might want a combination of short-term and long-term investments. Short-term investment vehicles may assist in paying off the down payment on a mortgage, while the long-term ones can be aimed at generating a passive income to be saved for retirement. Once retirement comes, one may need to focus more on short-term investing. Of course, it all depends on an individual’s overall goals.

Investing Goals and Risks

Speaking about investing goals, if one keeps a long-term goal, for example, to buy a large house worth $1,000,000, he or she should consider purchasing a long-term investment to gain the resources for the house project. A short-term investment would be more appropriate when one needs a particular amount of money at a certain time. It can be either buying a car or going on a vacation.

We are speaking about investments that imply bearing a certain level of risk. All investments differ regarding the level of risk. There are risk-free investments, such as government bonds, and risky investments in new companies (startups) without a track record or unsecured loans to entities with financial distress. However, the higher the risk, the higher the return an investor will claim for taking the risk.

One of the major risks long-term investors are exposed to is volatility or fluctuations in the financial markets that can trigger investments to decline in value. As far as short-term investors are concerned, the main risk exposure, in such a case, represents the purchasing power risk or the risk associated with inflation. Investment returns may not be worth much as long as the level of inflation increases, thus depreciating the currency.

Investors usually diversify their investment portfolios, making both short-term and long-term investments. Diversification means spreading out risks across various types of investment instruments.

Tactics of Long-Term Investors

As previously mentioned, long-term investments are vehicles one expects to benefit from owning for several years. Long-term investors approach investing by determining the rate of return acceptable by them.

When investing long term, investors should account for the value dropdowns in their investments, which is called dispersion. When dispersion happens, investors should not panic and sell their instruments just because of a temporary market decline. Markets are cyclical and always recover from dropdowns. The question is in time – what time is needed for recovery?

An example of long-term investment can be an investment in company stocks. If one believes in a certain business model pursued by a company in an industry, he can invest in it and keep it for some years. Another long-term investment is in a bond that matures in 10 or 30 years. The bond can be either a government bond or a corporate bond.

Find the Right Balance

It is very important that investors find the right balance in their investing strategies. It will, of course, depend on the situation, so make sure they know what to achieve before they begin investing. Using both short-term and long-term investment instruments will provide a good diversification level to investors.

Additional Resources

CFI offers the certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and developing your knowledge base, please explore the additional relevant resources below:

  • Business Strategy vs Business Model
  • Fixed Income Securities
  • Investing: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Return on Investment (ROI)
  • See all wealth management resources
Short-Term vs Long-Term Investors (2024)

FAQs

Short-Term vs Long-Term Investors? ›

Key Takeaways. As the names imply, the difference between long-term investmentors and short-term investors is their time horizon. Long-term investor time horizons are generally 10+ years, while the time horizon for short-term investors is less than 3 years.

What can be the difference between the short-term and long-term investor? ›

Long-term investors generally have a lower risk tolerance, as they focus on long-term goals and can withstand market fluctuations. On the other hand, short-term investors often have a higher risk tolerance, seeking quick gains despite potential volatility.

What is considered a long-term investor? ›

A long-term investor takes more risks in the short term to reap potential long-term returns. Generally, holding an investment for at least five years differentiates long-term investments from short. You pay long-term capital gains taxes upon the sale of long-term investments.

What is the difference between short and long investing? ›

Investors maintain “long” security positions in the expectation that the stock will rise in value in the future. The opposite of a “long” position is a “short” position. A "short" position is generally the sale of a stock you do not own. Investors who sell short believe the price of the stock will decrease in value.

What is considered a short term investor? ›

Short-term investments, also known as marketable securities or temporary investments, are financial investments that can easily be converted to cash, typically within 5 years. Short-term investments can also refer to the holdings a company owns but intends to sell within a year.

Why short term investment is better than long term? ›

There is no clear winner here as both have their pros and cons. Short term investment allows you to achieve your financial goals within a short span, with a lower risk. On the other hand, if you have a greater risk appetite, wanting higher returns, you can select long term investment avenues.

What do short-term investors focus on? ›

Short-term investing is an investing style in which the investor focuses most of their activity on buying and selling marketable securities, which means highly liquid securities that can typically be turned into cash within a year.

Is Warren Buffett a long term investor? ›

Warren Buffett is perhaps the best example of the power of long-term compounding. Buffett uses compound interest, dividend reinvestment, and the power of constantly reinvesting the operating cash flow generated by Berkshire's businesses to his advantage.

Who is the most successful long term investor? ›

Warren Buffett

Those who invested $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 are above the $60.2 million mark today. 1314 Buffett's investing style of discipline, patience, and value has consistently outperformed the market for decades.

Do long term investors lose money? ›

Many individuals claim to be long-term investors until the stock market begins falling, which is when they tend to withdraw their money to avoid additional losses. Many investors fail to remain invested in stocks when a rebound occurs.

What is a long short investor? ›

Long-short equity is an investment strategy that seeks to take a long position in underpriced stocks while selling short overpriced shares. Long-short seeks to augment traditional long-only investing by taking advantage of profit opportunities from securities identified as both under-valued and over-valued.

What are the disadvantages of short term investing? ›

1. Limited Growth: Compared to long-term investments, short-term options may not provide the same level of significant wealth accumulation through compound growth. 2. Greater Effort Required: Constant monitoring, research, and active management may be needed to identify lucrative short-term investment opportunities.

Is short term investment good or bad? ›

Short-term investments: Safe but lower yield

(But if you can invest for the long term, here's how to buy stocks.) Short-term investments do have a couple of advantages, however. They're often highly liquid, so you can get your money whenever you need it.

What are considered short and long term investments? ›

Investing Goals: Long-term investment goals typically take years or decades to reach and may include retirement and saving for college. Short-term investing goals may take months or a few years. Examples of short-term investing goals can include saving for a vacation, wedding or home improvement.

What is the difference between a long term investor and a short term investor? ›

Short-term investors are investors who invest in financial instruments intended to be held in an investment portfolio for less than one fiscal year. Conversely, long-term investors represent people investing in long-term financial instruments that they hold for more than one year.

What is considered a small investor? ›

An individual person investing in small quantities of stock or bonds. This group of investors makes up a minimal fraction of total stock ownership.

What is the difference between short term and long term? ›

Short-term goals are likely measured by weeks, months, or quarters. Long-term goals can be measured by years and may have an undefined timeline. It is much easier to achieve short-term goals because you can easily see progress. Long-term goals are difficult and require patience as there is no immediate obvious payoff.

What is the difference between short term and long term shareholders? ›

Short-term investors are investors who invest in financial instruments intended to be held in an investment portfolio for less than one fiscal year. Conversely, long-term investors represent people investing in long-term financial instruments that they hold for more than one year.

What is the main difference between short term and long term finance? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Short term financing involves a smaller amount, while long term financing involves a huge amount of money, which is mainly used as capital expenditure. Short term loans are paid over a short time, mostly paid under one year while long term loans are payable in more than one year.

What is the difference between long and short investing strategies? ›

“Long” Positions → Equities anticipated to rise in value are purchased to profit from the upside. “Short” Positions → Securities borrowed from a brokerage are sold to profit from repurchasing the securities at a lower price.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 5992

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.