Considerations
Many investors still fail to maximize the benefits of selling specific lots. Keeping track of your stock purchases at the lot level allows you to instruct your broker to sell shares from the specific lots that will be the most advantageous from a tax standpoint (instead of the default method First-in, First-Out (FIFO First in, first out (FIFO) is the default method used when selling securities by brokerages, the IRS and GainsKeeper. FIFO sells your oldest lots first.)). In most instances, you should sell the shares with the highest unit cost first, thereby minimizing your gains and your tax burden. You should also take into consideration whether the lot is short-term or long-term before selling. In your portfolio, look at the 'Unrealized Views' to identify which security lots have the highest cost, as well as those that are long or short term.