4. How often mutual funds trade Unlike stocks, which can be sold at any time during regular market hours, mutual funds trade only once per day after the markets close at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. You can enter an order to buy or sell mutual fund shares at any time, but your trade won't be executed until the closing of the current trading session or the next trading session if you place your order after hours. The price you realize will be the NAV that is calculated after the market closes.