Updated Feb 27, 2025

Going Long vs. Going Short: Which Trading Strategy Suits You?

Did you know? Most traders fail within the first 90 days. This is known as the 90-90 rule: 90% of traders lose 90% of their capital in 90 days. (Herovired)

This downfall usually happens because of improper knowledge of trading analytics and strategies implemented without any assistance or guidance.

Newbie traders often make mistakes like overspending on their capital or not understanding the value of stop losses. This will ultimately impact their stock market career in the early stages.

However, these problems can be easily tackled by understanding all the metrics and domains of long-term and short-term trade options. 

As a business analyst and marketing geek, I’m going to unfold some of the trading basics that every person should know through this blog post. 

Just read carefully till the end! 

Decoding Long-Term Trading Metrics 

Now moving to our first explanation, we have long-term trading options with robust dynamics and variations of tactics. In this process, you need to maintain a good amount of patience and control of capital to avoid overspending. Platforms like weblink will help you to execute the fundamentals of these factors more broadly. 

Positive market sentiment, strong economic reports, or technical indicators suggesting upward momentum are some factors a trader may decide to go long on. A trader can enter a long position with the hope that a certain stock’s price will go up if they think it’s undervalued or the market’s on a roll.

Furthermore, long trades are more accessible to new traders because they do not involve complex tactics or the use of borrowed funds. Long trades only involve buying assets; therefore, the risk is confined to the amount of money invested.

Intriguing Insights
This infographic pyramid shows the varied statistics of day trading.

 infographic pyramid

Unfolding Short-Term Investment Trading

I believe many people don’t agree that long-term is always profitable, which is true in some cases because many big sailing ships instantly fall because of one bad canon event. But for those people, short-term trading is the best alternative to satisfy their instant profit needs. 

In this category, traders usually short-sell securities when they anticipate a decline in value to repurchase the security at a lower price and give it back to the lender while keeping the difference for themselves.

Additionally, some market experts frequently purchase shares from a brokerage or another investor, then sell them on the open market in the hopes that the stock’s retail value will decline. The trader can then buy the shares back at a reduced price and return them, keeping the extra money in profit if the price drops as anticipated.

Differentiating Their Elementary Benefits

According to me, both trade methodologies have their pros and cons that are supervised by different mindsets and acquisitions of an individual or organization. 

But each has some significant benefits that can add multiple positive impacts in terms of financial liberty. For your easy observation, I’ve created a chart that will specify all the differentiating factors between them.

Benefits Long Trades Benefits of Short Trades 
It builds over time assets and often gives more profitable results. Due to its quick frequency, the chances of profits and losses become equal. But you can also generate increments from these trades. 
By investing in long-term trades, you can take hold of big companies in the future. You cannot become a stakeholder because of short layoffs.
You need to have fundamental knowledge of the whole market to get returns. Detailed analysis and expert prediction are the keys. 

How To Manage Losses And Minimize Them

In my opinion, it is the most important section of the whole stock market. A trader who knows how to maintain their losses and take precise exits when required cannot be defeated by any market deficit or crash. 

This process and analytics can get better through constant trial and error and obtaining experience and noticeable details from your past disengagement trade-offs. Emotional control and asset realization also play a critical role in stopping you from overspending on your capital. 

Interesting Facts 
FX is one of the most actively traded markets in the world, with individuals, companies, and banks carrying out around $6.6 trillion worth of forex transactions every single day.
(Source)

Crafting The Best Trading Strategy For You 

To create the best strategy, you need to observe the market trends first; without this, you cannot predict profits and vulnerabilities on your own. After all, you can get stuck in the oscillation of decisions. 

An essential consideration in this choice is risk tolerance. It can be more appropriate for you to go long if you are risk-averse and desire steady, predictable profits. You can profit from market uptrends with a limited downside when you hold long positions.

Significantly, trading strategies include factors that can show impacts in the long term and not on day one. You can calibrate your money-making plan by keeping these things in mind.

  • Risk tolerance
  • Leverage technical analysis
  • Delta Hedging
  • Portfolio Planning

The Final Words

I would want to conclude this segment by stating that there are clear benefits and challenges associated with both the long and short approaches. For investors who want a straightforward approach and anticipate a market’s ascent, going long is usually the safer and easier course of action.

Despite being more complicated, short selling is the ideal opportunity to benefit from hedging techniques and market downturns. Your trading objectives, level of market knowledge, and risk tolerance will typically determine which option you choose.




Author - Suprabha Bhosale
Suprabha Bhosale

Finance Writer

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