Starting out
Ticker
Also called Symbol or Ticker symbol
The short code that identifies a security on a particular exchange.
How it works
A ticker is only unique in combination with its exchange. The same letters can mean different companies in different countries, and one company listed in several places has a different ticker in each.
This is why professional systems key off an ISIN or a similar global identifier rather than the ticker. The ticker is a convenience for humans; it is not a reliable primary key.
Where it misleads people
Tickers get reused after a company delists. Historical data keyed on a bare ticker can silently splice two unrelated companies into one price series.
Related terms
- ISINA twelve-character global code that identifies one security uniquely, anywhere in the world.
- ExchangeA regulated marketplace where buyers and sellers of securities are matched under published rules.
- ListingA company’s admission to trade its shares on a particular exchange, under that exchange’s rules.
- CUSIPA nine-character code identifying a security issued in the United States or Canada.
More in Starting out
Educational reference only. Nothing here is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything, and tax treatment depends on your own circumstances and the country you are in.