Stock Quote |
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The stock quote provides you with a wealth of information about a stock you may be looking at purchasing. Stock quotes are available from a number of different sources, from newspapers, online services, and financial television show. In order to effectively use a stock quote, you must first learn how to read the quote. While the layout may vary slightly, all stock quotes provide the same information. Below we discuss stock quotes found online and in the majority of newspapers available today. Columns 1 & 2: 52-Week Hi and Low. These are the highest and lowest prices that a stock has traded at over the previous 52-weeks (1 year). This typically does not include the previous day's trading. Column 6: Dividend Yield. The percentage returned on the dividend. Calculated as annual dividends per share divided by the price per share. Column 7: Price/Earnings Ratio. This is calculated by dividing the current stock price by earnings per share from the last four quarters. Column 8: Trading Volume. This figure shows the total number of shares traded for the day, listed in hundreds. To get the actual number traded, add "00" to the end of the number listed. Column 9 & 10: Day High & Low. This indicates the price range the stock has traded at throughout the day's trading. In other words, these are the maximum and the minimum people have paid for the stock. Column 11: Close. The close is the last trading price recorded when the market closed on the day. If the closing price is up or down mo re than 5% than the previous day's close, the entire listing for that stock is bold-faced. Keep in mind, you are not guaranteed to get this price if you buy the stock the next day because the price is constantly changing (even after the exchange is closed for the day). The close is merely an indicator of past performance and except in extreme circumstances serves as a ballpark of what you should expect to pay. Column 12: Net Change. This is the dollar value change in the stock price from the previous day's closing price. When you hear about a stock being "up for the day," it means the net change was positive. Quotes on the Internet To get quotes, simply enter the ticker symbol into the quote box of any major financial site like Yahoo Finance, CBS Marketwatch, or Quicken.com. The example below shows a quote for Microsoft (MSFT) from Yahoo Finance. Interpreting the data is exactly the same as with the newspaper. One important note about online quotes, most services delay the reporting of market information for non-subscribers. The information displayed when you request a quote can be anywhere from 15 - 30 minutes old. Most online services offer real-time quotes to subscribers so they have the most up to date information before placing a trade. Conclusion |
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Copyright Stock Trading Review.com 2005
Copyright Stock Trading Review.com 2005 |
