Active Stocks
An active stock has unusually high trading activity during a defined period, but volume alone does not establish liquidity, quality, or investment value.
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An active stock has unusually high trading activity during a defined period, but volume alone does not establish liquidity, quality, or investment value.
An activist shareholder uses an ownership stake to influence strategy, governance, capital allocation, or management decisions.
Adjusted closing price restates historical quotes for specified corporate actions, helping compare returns without mistaking splits for gains or losses.
An American depositary receipt is a U.S.-traded certificate representing American depositary shares backed by shares of a non-U.S. company.
Asia-Pacific exchange terms for Australia, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Auction Market Preferred Stock (AMPS) are a type of US preference shares with variable dividends set by an auction process.
Beneficial ownership identifies who has specified economic benefits, voting or investment power, or ultimate ownership and control behind record title.
A blue-chip stock is an informal label for a prominent, established company, but the term has no universal test and does not guarantee safety or value.
Callable preferred stock lets the issuer redeem preferred shares at a stated price after specified call terms are met.
Canadian, Latin American, digital-asset, prediction-market, and specialized exchange terms that do not fit the major U.S., European, or Asia-Pacific venue groups.
A cash dividend is a company distribution paid in money to eligible shareholders according to a declared amount and payment schedule.
China A-shares are RMB-traded shares of mainland-incorporated companies; understand exchanges, foreign access, ownership, and major risks.
China B-shares are mainland-listed special shares traded in foreign currencies; understand Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, access, and risks.
Common stock is the basic ownership security most investors mean when they say they own a company's stock.
A common stock equivalent is a claim that can become common shares; the term also has a historical meaning in U.S. earnings-per-share accounting.
A constructive dividend is a U.S. tax reclassification of a corporate benefit provided to a shareholder without a formal dividend declaration.
Convertible preferred stock combines contractual preferred-share rights with conversion into common stock under terms set by the issuer's governing documents.
Cross-border listing and market-access terms for foreign share classes, depositary-style access, and Stock Connect programs.
Cum dividend, cum rights, or cum warrant status means a share still carries a pending distribution, subscription right, or warrant entitlement at trade time.
A cumulative dividend is a preferred-share feature under which omitted distributions accrue before junior dividends can generally resume.
Cumulative Preferred Stock is a type of preferred stock where unpaid dividends accumulate until they are paid out, taking precedence over common stock dividends.
Cumulative voting lets shareholders concentrate director-election votes. Learn the formula, minority-seat examples, comparison with straight voting, and limitations.
A CUSIP is a nine-character identifier for a specific security issue, used to match U.S. and Canadian instruments across trading, custody, and settlement.
A cyclical stock represents a business whose demand and earnings are relatively sensitive to expansions, slowdowns, recessions, and recoveries.
The dividend declaration date is when an authorized company body formally announces a distribution and its amount, class, and payment terms.
A defensive stock represents a business expected to be less sensitive to economic cycles, but the label does not guarantee safety or positive returns.
A deferred share is an equity class whose dividend, voting, or liquidation rights are postponed behind another class of shares.
A depositary receipt represents foreign shares held through a depositary arrangement and trades under the rules of its local market.
ADR, ADS, global registered share, and cross-border equity terms used when companies trade outside their home market.
Dilutive securities can add common shares through exercise, conversion, or settlement; their ownership effects differ from their treatment in diluted EPS.
A direct stock purchase plan lets investors buy company shares directly from the issuer or transfer agent instead of through a broker.
A dividend is a distribution to shareholders, commonly paid in cash but also possible in shares or other property.
Dividend Aristocrat usually describes a company selected for a long record of stable or rising dividends under a specified index methodology.
Dividend coverage ratio measures how many times a defined earnings or cash-flow amount covers dividends for the same period and shareholder class.
Dividend growth rate measures the change in dividend per share over one or more periods, with adjustments for special dividends and share changes.
A dividend in specie distributes property such as subsidiary shares or other assets to shareholders instead of paying cash.
Dividend irrelevance theory says payout policy does not change firm value when investment policy is fixed and capital markets are frictionless.
Dividend payout ratio is the share of earnings distributed as dividends, requiring matched periods, share classes, and recurring-payment adjustments.
Dividend per share is the distribution allocated to each eligible share over a stated period, used in yield, payout, and income analysis.
Dividend policy is a company's framework for balancing cash distributions with reinvestment, liquidity, debt, and other capital-allocation needs.
A dividend reinvestment plan uses cash distributions to buy additional shares, creating new tax lots and increasing exposure to the same investment.
A dividend waiver is a shareholder's formal surrender of a dividend entitlement before payment, subject to company law, governing documents, and tax rules.
Dividend yield is annual dividend per share divided by share price, with trailing, forward, special-dividend, and net-yield conventions.
Dual-class stock separates voting power or economic rights across share classes. Learn high-vote control, conversion, sunsets, valuation, and investor risks.
Equity is ownership value in a company or asset after liabilities and anchors stock claims, book value, and investor return analysis.
Equity Capital and Ownership covers Agency, Shareholder Value, and Time Horizon, Dilution, Anti-Dilution, and Overhang, Equity Capital, Claims, and Financing, Minority Rights, Transfer, and …
Escrowed shares are held by a third party or under lock-up terms until release conditions such as time, performance, or transaction milestones are met.
European exchange terms for London, Euronext, Frankfurt, Madrid, Warsaw, OMX, and related listing venues.
The ex-dividend date is the market date from which a buyer generally does not receive a previously declared distribution.
Ex-split means a stock trades on its new share basis; the trading date, record date, and distribution date determine how a split is processed.
FAANG stocks is historical market shorthand for Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet, not an official index or diversified sector.
A final dividend is a year-end distribution proposed or declared after full-year results under the issuer's governing law and approval process.
Foreign stocks are shares issued by companies based outside an investor's home country. Compare direct shares, ADRs, funds, currency effects, and risks.
Partly paid share canceled because the shareholder failed to meet a required payment or call.
A fractional share is less than one full share of stock and lets investors hold dollar-based positions that do not equal a whole share count.
An Australian franked dividend carries a credit for company tax allocated to the distribution under the dividend imputation system.
Free cash flow payout ratio compares cash dividends with a defined free-cash-flow measure to test the cash burden of distributions.
Fully diluted shares estimate common shares under stated conversion and exercise assumptions, helping compare ownership, financing terms, and valuation.
A fully paid share has no amount remaining due under its issue or subscription terms, although ordinary equity and legal risks remain.
Gifted stock is transferred without full payment; its cost basis, holding period, valuation, and reporting depend on the transfer and jurisdiction.
A global registered share is a single class of company stock designed to trade across markets while remaining registered on one global shareholder record.
A gross dividend is the distribution amount before withholding, fees, and other deductions, but the exact meaning depends on the reporting system.
A growth stock is priced partly on expectations that its company's revenue, earnings, or cash flow will expand faster than a relevant market or peer group.
Guaranteed stock is an equity security whose dividends or other payments are supported by a guarantee from another party.
An H-share is a share of a mainland-incorporated Chinese company listed in Hong Kong; understand access, A/H price gaps, rights, and risks.
An income stock is a share held partly for recurring dividends, which must be evaluated alongside payout coverage, capital risk, and total return.
Index options provide call or put exposure to an index level, commonly using cash settlement rather than delivery of every component security.
An institutional shareholder is an organization such as a pension fund, mutual fund, insurer, or asset manager that owns shares on behalf of clients or members.
An interim dividend is a distribution authorized before the final annual dividend process, subject to local law, company articles, and available resources.
Utilities-sector investing requires analysis of regulation, rate recovery, capital spending, leverage, dividends, valuation, and operating risk.
An ISIN is a 12-character global code identifying a financial instrument, distinct from a ticker, trading venue, quotation currency, or investor account.
A junior company is an early-stage or smaller issuer, commonly in mineral exploration, whose value and survival may depend on project results and financing.
A large-cap stock represents a company in the upper market-capitalization segment under a stated index or investment methodology.
Letter stock is an older term for restricted stock acquired in a private transaction, historically supported by an investment-intent letter.
Listing-status, exchange admission, listed-security, restricted-security, and share-transfer terms used in public markets.
Listing, security-identifier, share-class access, and exchange-admission terms used in public markets.
A majority shareholder owns more than half a company's voting power. Learn how share classes, beneficial ownership, vote rules, and governance affect control.
Stock index and market-capitalization terms used to compare equity markets and benchmark performance.
A mega-cap stock represents one of the largest public companies by market capitalization within a defined equity market or research universe.
Micro-cap stocks are shares of very small public companies; understand how market cap is calculated and why liquidity and disclosure require care.
A mid-cap stock represents a company in the middle market-capitalization segment under a stated index, fund, or research methodology.
A minority shareholder lacks unilateral voting control. Learn how voting rights, blocking stakes, agreements, dilution, and exit protections affect the position.
A net dividend is the cash credited after withholding, fees, and other deductions from the gross distribution amount.
A nominee holding records shares in the name of an intermediary while the beneficial owner retains the economic interest.
Non-Callable Preferred Stock refers to preferred shares without a call feature, meaning the issuer cannot redeem the shares before maturity.
Noncumulative preferred stock does not carry forward missed preferred dividends, so unpaid dividends usually lapse if the issuer skips them.
Exempt-interest dividends are U.S. mutual fund or regulated investment company distributions attributable to qualifying tax-exempt interest.
An omitted dividend is an expected or scheduled distribution that is not declared or paid, with different effects for common and preferred shares.
Ordinary dividends are U.S. distributions reported in Form 1099-DIV box 1a; qualified dividends are a potentially preferentially taxed subset.
Outstanding shares are issued shares held outside the issuer's treasury at a specified date and used in ownership and market-value calculations.
A stock trading above a supportable intrinsic-value estimate, including expectations analysis, valuation sensitivity, and timing risk.
Paired shares combine two related companies' shares into a linked trading unit, usually because investors must buy and sell them together.
Participating preferred stock gives holders priority dividends and may also let them share in additional profits or liquidation proceeds with common shareholders.
A partly paid share has a remaining amount payable under its issue terms, which may expose the holder to future calls and default consequences.
A penny stock is a rule-defined equity security with important exclusions; learn why price alone is insufficient and how liquidity affects risk.
A preferred dividend is a distribution governed by preferred-share terms, usually with priority over common dividends but below creditor claims.
Preferred stock is an equity class with dividend or liquidation priority over common stock, often trading with bond-like income characteristics.
Preferred stock and common stock differ in dividend priority, voting rights, upside participation, and liquidation claims.
Prior-preferred stock has a higher claim on dividends or assets than other preferred classes within the issuer's capital structure.
Proportional allocation based on ownership, requests, entitlements, or another stated share.
A public company has shares available to public investors through an exchange or regulated market and must meet disclosure and governance obligations.
The record date is when an issuer identifies registered holders for a dividend, vote, distribution, or other corporate action.
A redeemable share can be bought back by the issuer or redeemed under specified terms, giving the equity class debt-like exit mechanics.
A registered holder or stockholder of record is the person or nominee listed on the issuer's official ownership records.
Registered shares identify an owner or nominee on the issuer's shareholder records, affecting communications, voting, transfers, and custody.
A residual dividend policy funds the target equity share of acceptable investments before determining how much earnings remain for dividends.
Restricted stock consists of actual shares transferred subject to vesting, forfeiture, repurchase, transfer, or securities-law restrictions.
A restricted stock unit promises future shares or cash; vesting, settlement, withholding, and sale restrictions determine what the employee receives.
A reverse stock split combines shares into fewer units; a higher reference price does not create value, and fractional-share rules can affect holders.
CUSIP, ISIN, and SEDOL identify securities in different data systems; matching an instrument requires class, market, currency, and effective-date checks.
A SEDOL is a seven-character identifier used in global reference data to match instruments and country-level records for pricing, custody, and trading.
A share class is a category of corporate shares or fund interests with specified voting, economic, conversion, transfer, or fee terms.
Share price is the quoted or traded price of one stock share. Learn how bid, ask, and last prices differ and how price relates to value and market cap.
A share price index tracks a basket of stocks using set weights, with price-return and total-return versions that serve different performance comparisons.
A share register or stock ledger records a company's registered shareholders, share classes, balances, issuances, and transfers.
A share transfer changes legal or beneficial ownership through settlement, registration, an account transfer, or another documented process.
A shareholder owns shares in a corporation. Learn economic and voting rights, record versus beneficial ownership, limited liability, control, and key risks.
Shares of beneficial interest are ownership units issued by a trust, with economic, voting, transfer, and redemption rights set by its governing documents.
Small-cap stocks occupy a lower market-cap segment; learn how classifications vary and how size, liquidity, and business risk differ.
A special dividend is a nonrecurring distribution outside a company's normal dividend schedule, often funded by surplus cash or transaction proceeds.
A special situation is an investment thesis centered on a distinct corporate event whose outcome, timing, and terms can materially affect security value.
Statutory or straight voting limits each share to one vote for each board seat. Learn the mechanics, examples, election standards, and minority-holder effects.
Stock represents an ownership interest in a corporation, with potential voting, dividend, and capital-appreciation rights that depend on the share class.
Stock appreciation is a rise in a share's market price, distinct from dividend income, total return, and the taxable gain calculated when shares are sold.
Stock Connect links Hong Kong with Shanghai and Shenzhen for trading eligible securities; understand direction, quotas, settlement, and risks.
A stock dividend is a pro rata distribution of additional shares that increases shares outstanding without paying corporate cash.
Stock float is the number of company shares considered available for public trading. Learn the formula, exclusions, uses, and public-float distinctions.
Stock price, float, split, symbol, volatility, and corporate-action terms used in equity-market interpretation.
A stock split increases share count and reduces the per-share reference price; it does not itself create profit, raise capital, or dilute ownership.
A stock symbol identifies shares within a market or data system; confirm the issuer, share class, currency, and current listing before relying on it.
Stock volatility measures variation in a share's returns; historical and implied estimates differ, and neither predicts direction or sets a maximum loss.
Stock-market terms for ownership, share classes, dividends, investor style labels, and equity-market mechanics.
Stocks are ownership claims on companies, while commodity exposure comes from physical goods, derivatives, funds, or businesses affected by commodity prices.
Street-name securities are registered to a broker, clearing agency, or nominee while the broker records the investor as beneficial owner.
Tracking stock is issuer equity designed to reflect a business group's performance without creating separate ownership. Learn its structure, accounting, and risks.
U.S. exchange and listing-venue terms for NYSE, Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, regional markets, and related public markets.
A stock trading below a supportable estimate of intrinsic value, including valuation methods, margin-of-safety analysis, and value-trap risk.
Utilities-sector investing terms for regulated power, water, gas, and infrastructure companies.
A value stock trades at a low price relative to selected fundamentals, but the apparent discount must be tested against business quality and risk.
Voting stock carries rights to vote on directors or specified company matters. Learn votes per share, dual-class control, proxy mechanics, and key limitations.
Zero-dividend preferred stock pays no periodic dividend and is instead valued through redemption terms, discount pricing, or capital appreciation potential.