Stock Quotes Key Terms

Successfully navigate the stock market with knowledge of stock quotes key terms

By Mary Spencer-Huber

Successful investing in the stock market requires knowledge of stock symbols and quotes. There are various different types of quotes, including real-time quotes and delayed quotes. In addition, the actual stock symbol varies depending on the particular exchange where the stock is traded. By understanding where to find stock quotes and how to read them, you may increase your chances of successful stock market investment. Here are a few terms to get you started.

Free investment sites

Free investment sites are a great place for free stock quotes and other financial information. Free sites like Yahoo Finance, Investopedia.com and Stockcharts.com perform a variety of different financial services. Investors may use all of these and other sites to keep track of stocks they own and keep informed about stocks they are considering.
Try: Visit Stock Trading to Go for detailed information about specific investment sites.

Real time quotes

Real time stock quotes are essential for investors who are trading or working in the market on a daily basis. Real time quotes represent accurate prices for stocks at any point in time during the day. To obtain real time quotes investors must subscribe to a particular service, as well as install special software or web browser plug-ins.
Try: All Business offers additional information about real time quotes.

Delayed stock quotes

Delayed stock quotes represent market quotes that are several minutes old. Delayed stock quotes are typically free and available to all investors, but because they are 10 minutes or more old, it is possible that they are not accurate.
Try: For free delayed stock quotes go to Allstocks.com.

Stock symbol

The stock symbol consists of a collection of letters used to identify a particular security. Stocks that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange have stock symbols consisting of three or less characters, while stocks listed on the NASDAQ consist of a minimum four or five characters.
Try: Investopedia provides a more detailed explanation of why some stock symbols have three characters and some have four.

Stock symbol extension

Stock symbol extensions are abbreviations that are added to the end of a stock symbol to help the investor better understand the stock listing. Multiple stock symbol extensions may be added to the end of a stock symbol with each one separated by a period. An example of a stock symbol extension includes PR which means Preferred and might look like this: MSFT.PR.
Try: TMX Money provides specific examples of stock symbol extensions in their glossary of stock market terms.

Tick

A tick is the smallest upward or downward movement in the price of a stock. If the price of a stock goes up, it is referred to as an uptick, conversely, if the price falls it is a downtick. Originally, the tick was counted in fractions of a dollar but it has since changed to decimals. The ticker tape shows the price of each trade as it takes place.
Try: For another detailed definition of a tick go to Finance Glossary.