Refresh April 04, 2025 12:19 PM ET
 Refresh April 04, 2025 12:19 PM ET

Use Alerts

Alerts are messages that help you stay connected to activity in your accounts and in the markets. For instance, you can find out when your account balance falls below a certain amount, or when a symbol's price or volume hits a target you've set. You can also get notified when the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for a symbol you're watching dips below a level you might consider compelling. You'll receive your alerts online, but you can also have your alerts sent to your mobile phone number (US mobile numbers only) or to your email address.

Notes:
  • E*TRADE cannot guarantee the timeliness or delivery of alerts and, therefore, cannot be responsible for any losses or missed opportunities caused by delays or by alerts not having been delivered. Before you set up alerts, you'll need to read and accept the Alert Terms & Conditions.
  • Please do not reply to alert messages, as we are unable to read replies sent to that email address.
Use Alerts Manage alerts and set delivery preferences Set and view alert criteria
Check alert messages
Alert messages are always delivered to your Alert Inbox. You can also choose to send alerts to your mobile phone number (US mobile numbers only) and/or to your email address.

Here's how to check for alerts online:
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com. If your Alert Inbox contains unread messages, a flag will show in red.
  2. Below the flag, you can view subject lines for a few of the most recent messages you've received as well as the total number of your saved messages.
  3. To view a message, click the message's subject line.
  4. Click the flag icon to see your entire Alerts Inbox. If you'd like to read a message in your inbox, click the subject of the alert.
Note:
Alerts regarding symbol activity (price, volume, P/E, etc.) will be sent only during regular market hours (9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ET). You will, however, receive confirmations and alerts when Extended Hours orders execute.

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Find out about the types of alerts
There are three types of alerts:
  • Account Alerts include balance and activity alerts, as well as other important alerts, such as trade confirmations, dividend or interest paid alerts, and margin calls for brokerage accounts. Alerts notifying you that your account statement is available are also considered Account Alerts.
  • Symbol Alerts are alerts you can set up to track stock-related information, including changes in prices and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios.
  • Portfolio Digest Alerts are HTML-formatted email messages that provide information about your brokerage account holdings and how they've performed over a given period.

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Manage my Alert Inbox and delete messages
From your Alert Inbox, you can view and delete messages you've received, as well as change criteria for alerts you've set.
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click the flag icon. Your Alerts Inbox will display.
  2. The inbox is separated into three sections: All Alerts, Account Alerts, and Symbol Alerts.
  3. Based on what you'd like to do, take the steps outlined below.

    If you'd like to... Take these steps...
    Delete a message Check the box next to the message. To delete more than one message, check each box. To delete all messages in either the All, Account Alerts, or Symbol Alerts inboxes, click the "Select All" box. Click "Delete" to delete your message(s).

    Notes:
    • You can also delete a message by clicking the trash can image in the message itself
    • Symbol Alerts are automatically deleted 30 days after being sent. Account Alerts are deleted after 90 days.
    Trade a stock mentioned in a Symbol Alert Click the Trade button next to the message subject line to go to the order entry ticket on etrade.com.

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Change alert delivery preferences
In addition to our Alerts Inbox, you can choose to receive your alerts by text message (only applicable for US mobile phone numbers) and/or by email. On the alerts bell located in the upper right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com, click the flag icon, and then click "Delivery" (near the top of the Alert Inbox).
  1. Based on what you'd like to do, take these steps:

    If you'd like to... Do this...
    Receive text message alerts On the Alert Delivery Preferences page, follow the below steps:
    • Click on "Get started" next to the text message delivery method
    • Enter your mobile phone number to enable text messages for alerts (US numbers only), and click Submit
    • Click "I agree" on the E*TRADE Text Message Terms and Conditions

    After your US mobile phone number has been successfully enabled for text message alerts:
    • Click "Edit" in the Delivery Preferences section
    • Select the text message checkbox for Account, and/or Symbol alerts
    • Click "Save"

    Notes:
    • Account Alerts and Stock Alerts are automatically delivered to your Alert Inbox, even if you also choose to receive text message alerts.
    • Portfolio Digest messages can be sent only by email.
    Receive email alerts If you want to receive email alerts at your primary email address, on the Alert Delivery Preferences page, follow the below steps:
    • Click "Edit" in the Delivery Preferences section
    • Select the email checkbox for Account, Symbol, and/or Portfolio Digest alerts
    • Click "Save"

    If you want to receive email alerts at a different email address, on the Alert Delivery Preferences page, follow the below steps:
    • Click "Add new email" in the Delivery Preferences section
    • Enter the email and nickname of the email you want to receive alerts
    • Click "Add"

    After your new email address has been added -
    • Click "Edit" in the Delivery Preferences section
    • Select the "Email" checkbox for Account, Symbol, and/or Portfolio Digest alerts
    • Select the email address where you want to receive alerts
    • Click "Save"

    Notes:
    • Account Alerts and Stock Alerts are automatically delivered to your Alert Inbox, even if you also choose to receive text message alerts.
    • Portfolio Digest messages can be sent only by email. Your email address format must be set to HTML in order to receive.
    Change delivery preferences If you want to update your delivery preferences, on the Alert Delivery Preferences page, follow the below steps:
    • Click "Edit" in the Delivery Preferences section
    • Deselect or select the "Text message" and/or "Email" checkbox for the alerts you want to update
    • Click "Save"

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Understand formats for alerts delivered by email
There are two available format styles for emailed alerts. You'll need to select a format for each email address you add. You can change the format at any time.
  • HTML email is for messages with complex formatting and perhaps images (be sure your email software can display HTML).
  • Text email is for text-only messages (no images).

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Set alert criteria
For instructions on setting alert criteria, choose which of the alert types you'd like to add: Add an Account Alert
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click 'Set Alert'
  2. Based on what you'd like to do, take these steps:

    If you'd like to... Do this...
    Add a Balance alert Click the Balances tab. Enter threshold levels in the High Balance and/or Low Balance fields next to the account and balance type for which you want to set the alert, and then click 'Save.' You'll receive an alert if the balance falls below or rises above the levels you set.

    Notes:
    • Currently, Balance Alerts are available only for E*TRADE Complete Investment accounts and Morgan Stanley Private Bank accounts.
    • For E*TRADE Complete Investment accounts, we offer alerts for two different balances:
      • The Net Account Value balance includes virtually all assets and liabilities in the account: cash, securities, funds held in a money market or sweep account, and unverified deposits and withdrawals, minus any margin balance.
      • The Available for Withdrawal balance shows how much cash is immediately available, including cash and money market funds as well as available margin.
    • For Morgan Stanley Private Bank accounts, the Available Balance is based on cash currently available for withdrawal; any unverified deposits and withdrawals are excluded.
    Add an Activity alert
    1. Click the Activity tab. Check the alert(s) you want to activate (Deposit Received, or Direct Debit).
    2. Enter the amount(s) that will trigger an alert and click "Save." For instance, if you enter "100" next to "Deposit Received," you'll be notified when any deposit greater than $100 posts to your account. Entering "0" will trigger notifications for all transactions.

    Notes:
    • Deposit Received alerts will be sent for check deposits only.

  3. Once you've set an Account Alert, you may modify it at any time.
Note:
Important Account Alerts from Morgan Stanley Private Bank and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, as well as brokerage activity alerts such as trade confirmations and dividend or interest paid, are automatically sent.

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Add a Symbol Alert
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click "Set Alert."
  2. Based on which criteria you'd like to enter, take the steps outlined below. Keep in mind that Symbol Alerts are sent based only on regular market activity (between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET), not Extended Hours.

    If you'd like to be notified when... Take these steps...
    A stock price changes by a certain amount Under the Market tab, enter a ticker symbol and a value in at least one of the fields for High Target, Low Target, Daily %up, and Daily %down. You can also enter P/E and volume criteria at the same time.

    Notes:
    • To set a stock price alert quickly, call up a stock quote and then use your mouse to slide the dial on the price bar to set your alert.
    • Alerts for prices and P/E ratios are automatically turned off after the criterion is met and the alert is sent.
    A stock's P/E changes by a certain amount Under the Market tab, enter a ticker symbol and a value in at least one of the fields for PE High Target and PE Low Target. You can also enter price and volume criteria at the same time.

    Note:
    Alerts for prices and P/E ratios are automatically turned off after the criterion is met and the alert is sent.
    A stock's volume exceeds a certain level Under the Market tab, enter a ticker symbol and a value in the Volume field. You can also enter price and P/E criteria at the same time.
    Analysts take action Click the News tab. Enter a ticker symbol and check the box for Upgrades/Downgrades.
    In Play coverage is initiated Click the News tab. Enter a ticker symbol and check the box for In Play.
    Earnings are released Click the News tab. Enter a ticker symbol and check the box for Earnings.
    A stock split is announced Click the News tab. Enter a ticker symbol and check the box for Split Notice.

  3. Click Add.

    Once you've set a Symbol alert, you may modify it at any time.

    Tip:
    You can select an account or watch list from the pull-down menu on the Market or News tabs. This will pre-populate the rows with stocks you already own or follow. Then check the boxes next to the stocks for which you want to add alerts (you might have to uncheck boxes if they were checked by default), enter your criteria, and click "Update".

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Add a Portfolio Digest Alert
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click "Set Alert." Click the Portfolio Digest tab. Check the account(s) for which you'd like to receive a Portfolio Digest and then select Daily or Weekly.
  2. Click "Save." Once you've set a Portfolio Digest Alert, you may modify it at any time.

Portfolio Digest can be sent only by HTML-formatted email. If you haven't yet added an email address to your delivery preferences or haven't yet selected an email address for Portfolio Digest delivery, you will need to do so. For instructions, please see the "Change Alert Delivery Preferences" section.

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Understand the criteria for Symbol Alerts
Confused by all the Symbol Alert criteria? Here's a handy overview.

Criteria Description
High Target Sends an alert when the price of the security exceeds the target price
Low Target Sends an alert when the price of the security falls below the target price
Daily %up Sends an alert when the price of the security increases by this percentage in a given day
Daily %down Sends an alert when the price of the security decreases by this percentage in a given day
PE High Target Sends an alert when the P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) for the security exceeds this amount
PE Low Target Sends an alert when the P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) for the security falls below this amount
Volume Sends an alert when the security's volume (number of shares traded in a day) exceeds this amount

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View, change, or delete alert criteria
You can quickly see the alerts you've set up and make changes to them as you go.

Choose the alert type for which you'd like to view, change, or delete criteria: View, change, or delete Account Alert criteria
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click "Set Alert."
  2. Based on what you'd like to do, take these steps:

    For this type of alert... Take these steps...
    A Balance alert
    • To make a change to an alert, click the Balances tab. Delete the current value in the High or Low Balance field and then enter the desired value in its place. Click "Save."
    • To delete an alert, click the Balances tab. Delete the current value in the High or Low Balance field, and then click "Save" without entering a new value.
    An Activity alert
    • To make a change to an alert, click the Activity tab. To change the notification threshold, delete the current value and then enter the new value in its place. Be sure the boxes are checked next to the alerts you're editing. Then click "Save."
    • To delete an alert, click the Activity tab, and then click "Delete" on the corresponding row.

Note:
Important Account Alerts from Morgan Stanley Private Bank and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley are sent automatically and therefore cannot be turned off. These include alerts such as trade confirmations, funds transfer confirmations, and margin calls.

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View, change, or delete Symbol Alert criteria
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click "Set Alert."
  2. Follow these steps, based on which criteria you'd like to view, change, or delete:

    For this type of alert... Do this...
    A symbol price, P/E, or volume alert
    • To make a change to an alert, under the Market tab, select the ticker symbol by checking the adjacent box. Click "Edit," make your changes, and then click "Add."
    • To delete an alert, under the Market tab, select the ticker symbol by checking the adjacent box (or select "Check All" to delete all alerts), and then click "Delete."
    Analyst action, In Play coverage, earnings, or stock splits
    • To make a change to an alert, click the News tab and select the ticker symbol by checking the adjacent box. Click "Edit," make your changes, and then click "Add."
    • To delete an alert, click the News tab. Select the ticker symbol by checking the adjacent box (or select "Check All" to delete all alerts), and then click "Delete."

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View, change, or unsubscribe from a Portfolio Digest Alert
  1. Look for the alerts bell in the top right-hand corner of the global navigation on etrade.com and click "Set Alert".
  2. Click the Portfolio Digest tab, check the box(es) next to the account(s) you wish to modify, and then do the following:
    • To make a change, select the preferred frequency (Daily or Weekly) next to the corresponding account.
    • To cancel your subscription, select "Unsubscribe" next to the account.
  3. Click "Save".

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