HFM review: trading US stocks
A CFD-first multi-asset broker, not a US stockbroker. Which of its five group entities holds your account determines whether you have real regulatory protection at all.
In one line: HFM gives leveraged exposure to US share prices without ownership, founded 2010, headquartered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (HF Markets (SV) Ltd, the default retail entity), regulated by FCA, FSCA, FSA, CMA, with no minimum deposit and access to US share CFDs among 500+ CFD instruments (Forex, Commodities, Metals, Bonds, Energies, ETFs, Indices, Cryptos, Stocks).
The facts
| What you actually hold | A contract for difference on the share price |
|---|---|
| US stock access | US share CFDs among 500+ CFD instruments (Forex, Commodities, Metals, Bonds, Energies, ETFs, Indices, Cryptos, Stocks) |
| Fractional shares | Not applicable to CFD sizing |
| Minimum deposit | None |
| Published pricing | Spreads vary by account type, from 0 pips on Forex on the Zero account up to roughly 1.4 pips on Cent/Premium; commission structure differs by account. Source |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, HFM WebTrader, HFM Platform, HFM mobile app |
| Extended hours | Not published |
| Founded / HQ | 2010 · St. Vincent and the Grenadines (HF Markets (SV) Ltd, the default retail entity) |
| Regulation | FCA — United Kingdom (801701); FSCA — South Africa (46632); FSA — Seychelles (SD015); CMA — Kenya (155) |
Best for
- A wide instrument list across account tiers
- Traders wanting Lloyd's-backed civil-liability insurance on top of standard segregation
Watch out for
- The default HF Markets (SV) Ltd entity most retail clients sign up under is registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as an International Business Company — an incorporation, not a financial-services licence; only the FCA, FSCA, FSA and CMA entities above are actually regulated
- CFDs are leveraged: you do not own the share and can lose more than you expect
- Not available to US residents, and HFM also excludes several other jurisdictions
Frequently asked questions
Is HFM good for US stocks?
A CFD-first multi-asset broker, not a US stockbroker. Which of its five group entities holds your account determines whether you have real regulatory protection at all. Positions are CFDs, so you never own the share: dividends arrive as cash adjustments and financing is charged nightly.
Do you own the shares with HFM?
No. HFM offers contracts for difference on US share prices. You get price exposure with leverage, but no ownership, no voting rights and no actual dividend.
What does HFM cost for US stocks?
Spreads vary by account type, from 0 pips on Forex on the Zero account up to roughly 1.4 pips on Cent/Premium; commission structure differs by account. The authoritative figure is on HFM's own pricing page, linked on this profile — we restate it rather than estimating it.
Is HFM regulated?
HFM holds authorisations from FCA (United Kingdom, licence 801701); FSCA (South Africa, licence 46632); FSA (Seychelles, licence SD015); CMA (Kenya, licence 155). Which entity holds your account — and therefore which protections apply — depends on your country of residence.
What is the minimum to open a HFM account?
HFM does not require a minimum deposit, though a practical minimum is set by the price of what you want to buy and any currency conversion cost.
Reviewed August 2026. Every figure above is restated from HFM's own published pages, linked in the table.