If you make a scheduled sale after hours, the price at which the stock sells is determined by the prevailing market conditions during that session. After-hours trading is a period of extended trading that occurs outside the regular market hours, typically from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time12.
During this time, the stock is still available for trading on electronic communication networks (ECNs), which match potential buyers and sellers. However, the liquidity and volatility are generally higher than during regular market hours, which can lead to significant price fluctuations13.
The price at which the stock sells in the after-hours session is not necessarily indicative of the price at which it will open the following day. While news events or reactions to earnings reports can cause the after-hours price to be reflective of the next day's opening price, there is no guarantee that this will be the case34.
Therefore, the price at which a stock sells in the after-hours session is variable and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including market sentiment, news events, and the overall market environment at the time of trading.