The major difference between stock trading and stock investing is the time component. Where trading involves buying and selling stocks for a shorter time, investing involves holding them for a longer time span. Traders will always jump in and out of the market according to the technical factors, seeking to earn through market fluctuations. But an investor thinks from the view of company’s long term prospects and holds his positions for quite longer times. Also, there is more patience involved in stock investing than in stock trading. An investor has to stick to his plans and wait till the market reaches that position where his goals can be achieved.