Short-term stock dealing, or trading, involves buying and selling the best stocks for short term over a brief period, ranging from a few days to a few months. The aim is to capitalise on short-term price movements to achieve quick profits from the top short term share to buy today. In contrast, long-term investing involves holding stocks for several years or even decades. The goal is to benefit from a company’s sustained growth and the compounding effects of steady returns over time.