In financial trading, a “take profit” (TP) is an order made by the trader via their broker platform.
More specifically, this order identifies the amount of profit at which a trader wants their current position to exit at, should the instrument happen to reach that level.
The take profit is pre-determined either by setting the number of points or by setting the price at which the trade will automatically exit for a profit.
A take profit order is should or is usually placed at the start of a trade, just after a trader has entered the market.
Naturally, a take profit level can be above or below the entry price, depending on whether the trader is long or short.
For example, in currency trading, let’s assume that the EUR/USD is trading at 1.1200. If a trader anticipates the euro will gain strength against the dollar, they may buy EUR/USD.
In such a scenario, the take profit target would be placed above 1.1220. How much above the entry price is up to the trader, which they will determine by the use of technical and/or fundamental analysis.
If the trader feels the price should comfortably reach 1.1260, but are not convinced it will rise beyond that, they can place a TP of 40 pips on their forex broker platform.
Once this TP is set, (known as a buy take profit order) if the price does reach 1.1260, it will automatically close out for a profit.
Of note, the trader does not need to intervene, thereby freeing up time, especially since most individuals are unable or do not desire to keep a constant eye on the market.
Likewise, if the trader held that the price would be going down, they could set a sell take profit order, which would be placed at a certain level below the entry price.