Investing term

What is Ticker?

The short code that identifies a company's shares on an exchange — KO for Coca-Cola in New York, 7203 for Toyota in Tokyo.

You buy and sell by ticker, not by company name. Company names repeat, and on any one exchange a ticker points at exactly one company. The same company can carry a different code on every exchange it lists on, so check you've got the one your broker actually trades.

Learn it by doing

That's Ticker in theory — it clicks when you use it. Practise it hands-on in a free, interactive lesson (Stage 4, Stocks, Bonds, Cash & Alternatives).

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Read the full guide

Investing basicsWhat Is a Stock?A stock is a share of ownership in a company. Here's what owning one actually gets you, the two ways it can make you money, what can go wrong, and how you buy one.12 min read

Related terms

AlternativesInvestments outside the core stocks/bonds/cash mix — REITs, commodities, gold, crypto.BondA loan from you to an issuer (government or company), repaid with interest on a known schedule.Capital gainThe profit from selling an investment for more than you paid.CommodityA raw physical good like gold, oil, wheat, or copper — priced by the ounce, barrel, or bushel.

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