What Is a Stock Code or Symbol?
All stocks that trade on public markets are represented by an individual stock code or symbol. No two stocks have the same stock code. While these terms can be used interchangeably, in the United States, the term symbol is used. U.S. stock symbols consist of one letter to five letters. For example, Citigroup is represented by the symbol C, Wal-Mart is represented by the symbol WMT, and Shire Pharmaceuticals is represented by the symbol SHPGY. Option contracts in the United States are also represented by symbols/ tickers, which are generally five letters long. As with stocks, no two option contracts have the same symbol. What Makes Stock Prices Go Up and Down? Many factors influence the price at which a company’s stock trades, the most important factor being a company’s future earnings. Various fundamental factors combine to influence a company’s future earnings. You will become very familiar with fundamental factors as they are of particular interest to financial analysts and also gain
