1. Start With What You Know

This isn’t just advice—it’s a smart strategy. Do you use MTN for data? Drink Milo or use Maggi? Bank with GTCO or Access Bank? If a company plays a regular role in your life—and in the lives of millions of other Nigerians—it’s likely doing well. These are companies with:

• Strong brands
• Reliable income
• Large customer bases

When you invest in what you already understand, you reduce the guesswork.

2. Check the Track Record

Past performance isn’t everything, but it tells you something. With i-invest, you can:

• View share price history
• Track dividend payouts
• Check performance over time

Look for companies that are growing steadily — not just trending for a moment.

3. Dividends or Growth? Choose What Works for You

Stocks generally fall into two categories:

• Dividend stocks – These pay you part of their profit regularly (e.g. Zenith, GTCO)
• Growth stocks – These reinvest profits to grow the business (e.g. SEPLAT, BUA Foods)

Many new investors like dividend stocks because they bring in passive income even when share prices fluctuate. Others go for growth stocks with big long-term potential. You can also mix both styles to balance risk and reward.

4. Don’t Ignore Liquidity

Liquidity simply means how easy it is to buy or sell a stock. Highly traded stocks (like MTNN, GTCO, and ZENITHBANK) are more liquid, so it’s easier to move your money in and out. Less traded stocks can get stuck—hard to buy when rising or sell when falling. Always check volume or popularity when deciding.

5. Think Sector-Wide

Different industries perform differently depending on the economy. Here’s a quick guide:

Sector	When it does well
Banking	When interest rates are high
FMCG	During inflation or economic slowdowns
Oil & Gas	When global demand or oil prices rise
Tech/Telecom	When digital services are booming

On i-invest, you can easily browse stocks by sector to make more strategic choices.

6. Follow the Big Players

If big investors are buying a stock, it usually means the company is solid and worth looking at. Pension funds, mutual funds, and large institutions tend to do deep research before they invest. While you can’t see all their moves, blue-chip stocks with consistent performance often attract their attention.

7. Diversify Your Portfolio

One important rule: never put all your eggs in one basket. Instead of pouring ₦50,000 into just one stock, spread it across different sectors. For example:

• ₦20,000 in a banking stock
• ₦15,000 in a telecom stock
• ₦15,000 in a consumer goods stock

This way, if one stock dips, the others can help balance out your portfolio. And yes, you can do all this directly from your i-invest dashboard.

8. Use Your Watchlist Like a Pro

Not ready to invest just yet? Add interesting stocks to your watchlist and monitor their:

• Price changes
• News updates
• Seasonal patterns

Over time, you’ll start to notice trends—and your confidence will grow. Watching before acting is part of becoming a smarter investor.

Final Thoughts: It’s Simpler Than You Think

You don’t need a finance degree or a stockbroker to start. With i-invest, you get:

• Real-time market data
• A simple, clean interface
• Access to some of Nigeria’s biggest companies
• Full control from your phone

And yes, it’s 100% regulated by the SEC and licensed by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

Get Started Today

Download the i-invest app on Google Play or the App Store, and begin your journey toward smarter investing—one stock at a time.