by The stock market is a complex ecosystem where investors trade securities and companies raise capital. To navigate this dynamic environment effectively, it’s crucial to understand the multitude of terminologies that are integral to the market’s functioning. For many novice investors, navigating the world of stocks and shares can feel like stepping into a foreign land filled with unfamiliar jargon and terminology. From bulls and bears to IPOs and dividends, understanding the language of the stock market is essential for anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of investing.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll demystify some of the most common stock market terminologies to help you feel more confident as you embark on your investment journey.
Understanding these terminologies is essential for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of the stock market. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, mastering these concepts will empower you to make informed decisions and navigate the ever-changing landscape of the financial markets with confidence. So, dive in, explore, and expand your knowledge to unlock the potential of the stock market.
Share: -
- Definition: A share is the single smallest denomination of a company’s stock.
- Ownership: A share is referred to as a unit of ownership which represents an equal proportion of a company’s capital.
- Profit and Loss: A share entitles the shareholders to an equal claim on the profit and losses of the company.
Example
A share is like a piece of a company. If a company named XYZ has 1,000 shares, it means the company is divided into 1,000 equal parts. When someone says, “I am purchasing a share of the company,” it means they are buying a part of the company or a piece of it. If someone says, “I am a shareholder of the company,” it means they are a part-owner of the company.
Share price: -
- Definition: A share price or stock price is the amount it would cost to buy one share in a company.
- Fluctuation: The price of a share is not fixed but fluctuates according to market conditions.
Example
If a company has 10,000 shares and the total market value of the company is Rs 100,000, then the price of one share would be Rs 10.
Listed Company: -
- Definition: A listed company is a company whose shares are quoted on a stock exchange.
- Trading: A listed company’s shares can be traded on a country’s main stock market.
In the Indian stock market, various types of companies can be listed. The primary types include:
Public Limited Companies (PLCs): These are companies with no restriction on the maximum number of shareholders, and they can raise capital from the public by issuing shares. They must comply with the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the listing requirements of the stock exchanges.
Private Limited Companies (Conversion): Private limited companies can become public limited companies and get listed by converting their status and meeting the necessary requirements.
Government-Owned Enterprises (PSUs): Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) that are government-owned companies can also be listed on the stock exchanges. These companies often go through a process of disinvestment where a portion of their shares is sold to the public.
Banks and Financial Institutions: Both private and public sector banks and other financial institutions can be listed on the stock exchanges.
Multinational Corporations (MNCs): Subsidiaries of multinational corporations operating in India can also be listed if they meet the listing criteria.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): SMEs can be listed on the dedicated SME platforms of stock exchanges like the BSE SME and NSE Emerge, which are designed to cater to the needs of smaller companies with lesser compliance requirements compared to the main board.
Startups: Startups that meet specific eligibility criteria can also be listed on platforms like the Innovators Growth Platform (IGP) of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
Each type of company must meet specific criteria set by SEBI and the respective stock exchange, including minimum capital requirements, profitability, and corporate governance standards, to get listed.
IPO (Initial public offering): -
- Definition: An IPO is short for an initial public offering. An IPO, or Initial Public Offering, is the process through which a privately-owned company offers its shares to the public for the first time, thus becoming a publicly traded company.
- Purpose: It is when a company initially offers shares of stocks to the public.
- Alternative Term: It is also called “going public.”
- Status Before IPO: Before an IPO, the company is privately-owned.
FPO (Follow-on Public offer): -
- Definition: FPO, or Follow-on Public Offer, is a process by which a company that is already listed on an exchange issues new shares to investors or existing shareholders, usually including the promoters.
Holding: -
Holding in the share market refers to the ownership of shares of a company by an individual or entity. It signifies the quantity and type of shares held in a portfolio, indicating the extent of ownership interest in the company.
Types of Holdings of Shares in a Company
Promoter Holding: Shares held by the promoters of the company. It Indicates significant control and influence over the company’s operations and decisions.
Institutional Holding: Shares held by institutional investors such as mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds, and hedge funds. Often considered stable and significant due to the large volumes of shares they hold.
Retail Holding: Shares held by individual retail investors. Generally involves smaller quantities of shares held by a large number of individual investors.
Foreign Holding: Shares held by foreign investors or foreign institutional investors (FIIs). It Indicates the level of international interest and investment in the company.
Government Holding: Shares held by government bodies or entities. Common in public sector undertakings (PSUs) where the government maintains significant ownership.
Employee Holding: Shares held by the company’s employees, often acquired through stock options, ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans), or direct purchase. It Aligns employee interests with company performance and growth.
Market capitalization (Market CAP): -
- Definition: Market capitalization is the aggregate valuation of the company based on its current share price and the total number of outstanding stocks.
- Calculation: It is calculated by multiplying the current market price of the company’s share with the total outstanding shares of the company.
Enterprise value (EV): -
- Definition: Enterprise value (EV) is a measure of a company‘s total value, often used as a more comprehensive alternative to equity market capitalization.
- Calculation: Enterprise value (EV) is calculated as the sum of a company’s market capitalization, total debt, and subtracting cash holdings.
This formula accounts for a company’s debt and cash positions, providing a clearer picture of its overall value.
Demat and Trading account: -
- Demat Account:
- Function: A Demat account is used to hold securities in dematerialized form, replacing the traditional physical share certificates.
- Usage: It allows investors to buy, hold, and sell shares electronically.
- Trading Account:
- Function: A trading account is required for buying and selling shares on the stock market.
- Intermediary Role: It acts as an intermediary between the Demat account and the investor’s savings bank account.
- Relationship:
- Complementarity: A Demat account is usually accompanied by a trading account, with both being essential for share trading.
- Integration: While the Demat account holds securities electronically, the trading account facilitates transactions by providing access to the stock market.
Investing & Trading: -
Investing:
- Objective: Investing involves purchasing assets with the expectation of generating returns over the long term.
- Time Horizon: Typically, investors have a longer time horizon and aim to build wealth gradually over years or decades.
- Strategy: Investors often focus on fundamental analysis, assessing factors like company financials, industry trends, and management quality.
- Risk Tolerance: Generally, investors are willing to accept moderate to low levels of risk and may prioritize capital preservation.
- Examples: Buying and holding stocks, mutual funds, bonds, real estate, or other assets for long-term growth or income.
Trading:
- Objective: Trading involves buying and selling assets with the aim of profiting from short-term price movements.
- Time Horizon: Traders typically have a shorter time horizon, ranging from minutes to months, and may execute numerous transactions within a single day.
- Strategy: Traders often rely on technical analysis, analyzing price charts and market indicators to identify short-term trading opportunities.
- Risk Tolerance: Traders may accept higher levels of risk in pursuit of short-term gains, and some engage in leveraged trading, which can amplify both profits and losses.
- Examples: Day trading, swing trading, options trading, forex trading, and other short-term trading strategies focused on capitalizing on market fluctuations.
Market capitalization categories: -
Large Cap:
- Definition: A company with a market capitalization value of more than Rs 20,000 crores is considered a large cap company.
- Characteristics: Large cap companies are typically well-established and have a stable market presence. They often have a track record of consistent performance and may offer lower risk compared to smaller companies.
Mid Cap:
- Definition: A company with a market capitalization above Rs. 5,000 crores and less than Rs. 20,000 crores is considered a mid cap company.
- Characteristics: Mid cap companies are generally more volatile than large caps but may offer higher growth potential. They are often in a phase of expansion and may provide opportunities for investors seeking growth.
Small Cap:
- Definition: A company with a market capitalization below Rs 5,000 crores is classified as a small cap company.
- Characteristics: Small cap companies are typically newer or less established compared to large and mid cap companies. They may offer higher growth potential but also entail higher risk due to their smaller size and lesser market visibility. Investors in small caps often seek capital appreciation over the long term.
Upper circuit & Lower circuit: -
Upper Circuit:
- Definition: An upper circuit refers to the maximum allowable price movement set by stock exchanges for a particular security on a given trading day.
- Function: When a stock hits its upper circuit, trading in that security is temporarily halted, preventing further price increases beyond the predefined limit.
- Reasons: Upper circuits are usually triggered by significant buying interest or positive news about a company, causing a surge in demand for its shares.
- Implications: Investors cannot buy the security at a higher price until trading resumes, potentially leading to a buildup of buying pressure.
Lower Circuit:
- Definition: A lower circuit refers to the minimum allowable price movement set by stock exchanges for a particular security on a given trading day.
- Function: When a stock hits its lower circuit, trading in that security is temporarily halted, preventing further price decreases beyond the predefined limit.
- Reasons: Lower circuits are usually triggered by significant selling pressure or negative news about a company, causing a sharp decline in demand for its shares.
- Implications: Investors cannot sell the security at a lower price until trading resumes, potentially leading to a buildup of selling pressure.
Stop loss: -
- Definition: A stop-loss order is an order placed with a broker to buy or sell a security once the stock reaches a certain price.
- Purpose: Stop-loss orders are designed to limit an investor’s loss on a security position by automatically triggering a sale (or purchase) when the stock price reaches a predetermined level.
- Function: For long positions, a stop-loss order is typically placed below the current market price to sell the security if its price falls to that level. For short positions, the stop-loss order is usually placed above the current market price to buy back the security if its price rises to that level.
- Implementation: Stop-loss orders help investors manage risk and protect their investment portfolios from large losses in volatile market conditions.
- Considerations: Setting an appropriate stop-loss level involves balancing the desire to limit losses with the potential for market volatility and fluctuations.
Face value: -
The face value of a share, also known as its par value, is the nominal value assigned to the share when it is initially issued by the company. This value is printed on the share certificate and represents the legal capital of the company. It is distinct from the market value of the share and is used primarily for accounting and legal purposes.
- Definition: The face value of shares is the nominal value at which the share is originally issued and listed on the stock market.
- Alternative Name: Face value is also known as par value.
- Location: The face value of a share is typically printed on the share certificate.
- Significance: It represents the legal capital of the company and is used for accounting and legal purposes.
- Relationship with Market Value: The face value of a share does not necessarily reflect its current market value, which can be higher or lower depending on various factors such as supply and demand, company performance, and market conditions.
Book value: -
The book value of a share refers to the net asset value of a company per outstanding share, calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets and dividing the result by the total number of shares issued by the company. It provides insight into the company’s financial health and represents the theoretical value per share if the company were to be liquidated and its assets sold off to pay liabilities.
- Definition: Book value, in literal terms, refers to the value of a company’s assets minus its liabilities, as recorded on its balance sheet.
- Significance: It represents the net worth of the company from an accounting perspective and provides insight into the company’s financial health.
- Calculation: The book value per share is calculated by dividing the total book value of the company’s equity by the total number of shares outstanding.
- Formula: Book Value per Share = (Total Assets – Total Liabilities) / Total Number of Shares Issued by the Company
- Purpose: It depicts the amount per share stakeholders could theoretically receive if the company were to be liquidated and its assets sold off to pay liabilities.
- Comparison with Market Value: The book value per share is often compared to the market value per share to assess whether a stock is undervalued or overvalued. If the market value is significantly higher than the book value, it may indicate investor optimism about the company’s future earnings potential. Conversely, if the market value is lower than the book value, it may suggest that the stock is undervalued.
Market value: -
Market value is the current price at which a share is traded on a listed stock exchange, reflecting the perceived worth of the company in the financial markets. It is determined by the forces of supply and demand and represents the collective assessment of investors regarding the company’s future prospects.
Calculation: The market value per share is calculated by dividing the total market value of the company by the total number of shares issued by the company.
Market value provides investors with real-time information about the market’s valuation of a company and is a crucial factor in investment decision-making.
Replacement value: -
The replacement value method is an approach to company valuation that considers the amount required to replace the existing company entirely as its valuation.
Key Points:
- Concept: The replacement value method assesses the value of a company based on the costs needed to recreate a similar company in the same industry from scratch.
- Calculation: It includes all costs required to establish a comparable company, such as purchasing assets, hiring personnel, acquiring technology, and other expenses.
- Purpose: This method provides insight into the potential cost of starting a similar business from scratch, which can be useful for investors and analysts evaluating the worth of the company.
- Considerations: While replacement value offers a comprehensive perspective on the company’s value, it may not reflect its current market value or future earning potential, as it focuses solely on the cost of recreating the business. Additionally, factors such as intangible assets, brand reputation, and market dynamics are not always fully captured in this method.
Intrinsic value: -
The intrinsic value of an equity share represents the estimated present value of its future cash flows and other benefits to the investors.
Key Points:
- Definition: Intrinsic value is the true worth of a stock, calculated by discounting the expected future cash flows or benefits that an investor will receive from owning the stock.
- Calculation: It involves estimating the future cash flows, dividends, or other benefits that the stock is expected to generate and discounting them back to present value using an appropriate discount rate.
- Investment Decision: Investors aim to identify stocks trading below their intrinsic value, as they are considered undervalued and may offer potential for capital appreciation.
- Considerations: Estimating intrinsic value requires careful analysis of a company’s financial performance, growth prospects, competitive position, industry dynamics, and macroeconomic factors. Different valuation methods, such as discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, earnings-based models, and asset-based approaches, can be used to determine intrinsic value.
- Long-Term Perspective: Investing in stocks based on their intrinsic value involves a long-term perspective, focusing on the fundamental value of the company rather than short-term market fluctuations or speculative trends.
Earnings per share (EPS): -
Earnings per share (EPS) is a fundamental financial metric that indicates the profitability of a company on a per-share basis.
- Definition: EPS measures the portion of a company’s profit allocated to each outstanding share of its common stock.
- Calculation: EPS is calculated by dividing the company’s net income by the total number of shares outstanding.
- Formula: Earnings Per Share = Company’s Net Income / Total Number of Shares
- Significance: EPS is a key tool used by market participants to assess the profitability and performance of a company before investing in its shares.
- Interpretation: Higher EPS values generally indicate greater profitability on a per-share basis, while lower values may suggest lower profitability.
- Comparison: Investors often compare a company’s EPS with its historical EPS, industry averages, and competitor EPS to evaluate its financial health and growth potential.
Price-Earnings ratio (P/E Ratio): -
The Price-Earnings ratio (P/E ratio) is a widely used financial metric that evaluates the relationship between a company’s stock price and its earnings per share (EPS).
- Definition: The P/E ratio measures the price that the market is willing to pay for each unit of earnings generated by a company.
- Calculation: The P/E ratio is calculated by dividing the market price per share by the earnings per share (EPS).
- Formula: P/E Ratio = Market Price per Share / Earnings per Share
- Interpretation: A high P/E ratio suggests that investors are willing to pay a higher price for the company’s earnings, indicating optimism about its future growth prospects. Conversely, a low P/E ratio may indicate undervaluation or pessimism about the company’s outlook.
- Significance: The P/E ratio is a key tool used by investors to assess the relative valuation of a company’s stock compared to its earnings and to make investment decisions.
- Comparison: Investors often compare a company’s P/E ratio with its historical P/E ratio, industry averages, and competitor P/E ratios to gauge its valuation and identify potential investment opportunities.
Forward Price-Earning ratio (Forward P/E Ratio): -
The forward price-earnings ratio (forward P/E ratio) is a financial metric used to assess the valuation of a company’s stock based on predicted future earnings per share (EPS).
- Definition: The forward P/E ratio is similar to the traditional P/E ratio but uses predicted or estimated earnings per share for future periods rather than historical earnings.
- Calculation: It is calculated by dividing the current stock price by the predicted earnings per share for a future period, typically the next fiscal year.
- Formula: Forward P/E Ratio = Current Stock Price / Predicted Earnings Per Share
- Significance: The forward P/E ratio provides investors with insight into how the market values a company’s stock relative to its expected future earnings. It helps investors anticipate future earnings growth and assess the potential return on investment.
- Comparison: Investors compare the forward P/E ratio with the historical P/E ratio and industry averages to gauge whether a stock is overvalued, undervalued, or fairly valued. A lower forward P/E ratio may indicate potential undervaluation, while a higher ratio may suggest overvaluation. However, it’s important to consider other factors such as growth prospects, industry trends, and market conditions when interpreting the ratio.
Price-to-Book value ratio (P/B ratio): -
The price-to-book (P/B) ratio is a financial metric used to compare a company’s market value to its book value.
- Definition: The P/B ratio compares the market value of a company, calculated by multiplying its share price by the number of outstanding shares, to its book value, which represents the net assets of the company.
- Calculation: The P/B ratio is calculated by dividing the market price per share by the book value per share.
- Formula: P/B Ratio = Market Price per Share / Book Value per Share
- Interpretation: A P/B ratio greater than 1 indicates that the stock is trading at a premium to its book value, while a ratio less than 1 suggests that the stock is trading at a discount to its book value.
- Significance: The P/B ratio helps investors assess the valuation of a company relative to its underlying assets. It is particularly useful for evaluating companies with significant tangible assets, such as manufacturing or real estate companies.
- Comparison: Investors often compare a company’s P/B ratio with industry averages, historical P/B ratios, and competitor ratios to determine whether the stock is overvalued, undervalued, or fairly valued.
Debt to Equity ratio (D/E ratio): -
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a financial metric used to assess the proportion of a company’s financing that comes from debt compared to equity.
- Calculation: The D/E ratio is calculated by dividing a company’s total liabilities by its shareholder equity.
- Formula: Debt to Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities / Shareholder Equity
- Interpretation: The D/E ratio indicates the degree of financial leverage used by a company. A higher ratio suggests that the company has more debt relative to equity, while a lower ratio indicates a lower level of debt and potentially less financial risk.
- Significance: The D/E ratio provides insights into a company’s financial structure and risk profile. It helps investors assess the company’s ability to meet its financial obligations and its reliance on debt financing.
- Balance Sheet: The components needed to calculate the D/E ratio, total liabilities, and shareholder equity, are typically found on the balance sheet of a company’s financial statements.
- Comparison: Investors often compare a company’s D/E ratio with industry averages, historical ratios, and competitor ratios to evaluate its financial health and leverage position.
- Usefulness: The D/E ratio is important for investors, creditors, and analysts as it helps them assess the company’s financial stability, solvency, and risk level.
Dividend: -
A dividend is a distribution of profits made by a corporation to its shareholders as a reward for their investment.
- Payment: Dividends are typically paid in cash, known as “cash dividends,” but can also be distributed in the form of additional stock shares, referred to as “stock dividends.”
- Purpose: Dividends are a way for companies to share their profits with shareholders, providing them with a return on their investment.
- Cash Dividends: Cash dividends are usually paid out of a company’s earnings and are typically declared by the company’s board of directors.
- Stock Dividends: Stock dividends involve distributing additional shares of stock to existing shareholders, proportionate to their existing holdings.
- Benefits: Dividends provide investors with regular income, making dividend-paying stocks attractive to income-seeking investors. Additionally, dividends can signal a company’s financial strength and stability.
- Considerations: Dividend payments and policies vary among companies and may depend on factors such as profitability, cash flow, growth opportunities, and capital needs. Investors should assess a company’s dividend history, payout ratio, and dividend sustainability when evaluating dividend-paying stocks.
Dividend per share (DPS): -
Dividend per share (DPS) is a financial metric that represents the sum of declared dividends issued by a company for every ordinary share outstanding.
- Calculation: DPS is calculated by dividing the total dividends paid out by the company, including interim dividends, over a specific period of time by the number of outstanding ordinary shares issued.
- Formula: DPS = Total Dividends Paid / Number of Outstanding Ordinary Shares
- Significance: DPS provides insight into the amount of dividend income that each shareholder is entitled to receive for each share they own.
- Interpretation: Higher DPS values indicate a higher dividend payout to shareholders, while lower DPS values suggest lower dividend payments.
- Comparison: Investors often compare a company’s DPS with its historical DPS, industry averages, and competitor DPS to evaluate its dividend payment history and potential for future dividends.
- Usefulness: DPS is an important metric for income-seeking investors who rely on dividend income for their investment returns. It helps them assess the dividend-paying ability and attractiveness of a company’s stock.
Ex-Devidend date: -
The ex-dividend date is a significant milestone in the dividend payment process for stocks.
- Timing: The ex-dividend date is typically set two business days before the record date.
- Meaning: If an investor purchases shares on or after the ex-dividend date, they are not entitled to receive the next dividend payment.
- Impact: Investors who purchase shares before the ex-dividend date are eligible to receive the upcoming dividend payment, while those who purchase shares on or after the ex-dividend date will not receive the dividend.
- Rationale: The ex-dividend date is used to ensure that the ownership of shares is accurately recorded for dividend payments. It allows time for transactions to settle before the record date.
- Consideration: Investors should be mindful of the ex-dividend date when buying or selling stocks, as it affects their eligibility to receive dividend payments.
Record date: -
The record date is a crucial date used to determine which shareholders are eligible to receive a corporate dividend.
- Definition: The record date serves as the cut-off date for identifying shareholders who are entitled to receive a dividend payment.
- Timing: Typically, the record date occurs the day after the ex-dividend date.
- Purpose: The record date ensures that only shareholders who own the stock before this date receive the dividend payment.
- Significance: Shareholders recorded on the company’s books as of the record date are considered the rightful recipients of the dividend.
- Relation to Ex-Dividend Date: The ex-dividend date and record date are closely related, with the ex-dividend date marking the date when shares begin trading without the dividend entitlement, while the record date determines the actual shareholders entitled to the dividend.
- Consideration: Investors need to own shares of the stock before the record date to receive the dividend payment, regardless of when they purchased the shares relative to the ex-dividend date.
Buyback: -
Buyback of shares, or stock buyback, refers to a corporate action in which a company repurchases its own shares from existing shareholders.
- Definition: Buyback of shares involves a company purchasing its own outstanding shares from the market, thereby reducing the total number of shares available to the public.
- Purpose: Companies may undertake buybacks for various reasons, including returning excess capital to shareholders, signaling undervaluation, boosting earnings per share (EPS), or preventing hostile takeovers.
- Methods: Buybacks can be executed through open market purchases, tender offers, or other mechanisms, and the repurchased shares are typically retired or held as treasury stock.
- Impact: Buybacks can lead to an increase in shareholder value by reducing the number of outstanding shares, which can boost earnings per share and potentially increase stock prices.
- Considerations: Investors and analysts monitor buyback activities as they may indicate management’s confidence in the company’s future prospects and its commitment to enhancing shareholder value.
Moving Averages (MA): -
Moving averages (MA) are widely used technical analysis tools that help smooth out price data and identify trends over a specific period of time.
- Definition: A moving average is calculated by taking the average price of a security over a predetermined period, such as 10 days, 20 minutes, 30 weeks, or any other time frame chosen by the trader.
- Smoothing Effect: Moving averages remove short-term fluctuations and noise from price data, providing a clearer picture of the underlying trend.
- Types: There are different types of moving averages, including simple moving averages (SMA), exponential moving averages (EMA), weighted moving averages (WMA), and others, each with its own calculation method and characteristics.
- Interpretation: Traders and investors use moving averages to identify trends, support and resistance levels, and potential entry or exit points for trades.
- Crossover Signals: Moving average crossovers, where short-term moving averages cross above or below longer-term moving averages, are often used as trading signals to indicate potential trend reversals or continuations.
- Timeframe Selection: The choice of the period for the moving average depends on the trader’s investment horizon, trading strategy, and the level of sensitivity to price movements desired.
- Popular Averages: Common moving average periods used include the 50-day and 200-day moving averages for longer-term trend analysis, as well as shorter-term averages like the 20-day or 50-day moving averages for more immediate price action analysis.
- Considerations: While moving averages are valuable tools for trend analysis and trading signals, they are lagging indicators and may not always provide accurate predictions, especially in volatile or choppy market conditions. Therefore, they are often used in conjunction with other technical indicators and analysis techniques for confirmation and validation.
Bonus share: -
Bonus shares, also known as scrip dividends or capitalization issues, are additional shares distributed to existing shareholders by a company without any additional cost.
- Purpose: Bonus shares are issued by a company as a way to reward its shareholders while conserving cash. They are often distributed as a form of dividend when a company has accumulated retained earnings or reserves.
- Allocation: The allocation of bonus shares is usually proportional to the number of shares already held by each shareholder. For example, if a shareholder owns 100 shares, they may receive an additional 10 shares as a bonus.
- No Additional Cost: Shareholders do not have to pay any additional money to receive bonus shares. They are provided free of charge by the company.
- Impact: Bonus shares increase the total number of shares outstanding without affecting the company’s net worth. However, they dilute the ownership percentage of existing shareholders.
- Reasons for Issuance: Companies may issue bonus shares to improve liquidity in the market, enhance shareholder value, boost investor confidence, or increase the attractiveness of their stock.
- Record Date: The record date for bonus shares determines which shareholders are eligible to receive the bonus. Investors who own shares before the record date are entitled to receive the bonus shares.
- Tax Implications: Bonus shares are generally tax-free for shareholders, as they do not involve any cash outlay. However, shareholders may need to adjust their cost basis for tax purposes to reflect the additional shares received.
Right share: -
Rights shares are shares offered by a company to its existing shareholders, giving them the opportunity to purchase additional shares in proportion to their existing holdings.
- Issuance: Companies issue rights shares to raise additional capital from existing shareholders without going through the process of a public offering.
- Subscription Right: Existing shareholders have the privilege, but not the obligation, to subscribe to these shares in proportion to their current shareholdings. This means they have the right to purchase a specific number of new shares at a predetermined price.
- Purpose: Rights issues are typically undertaken to raise funds for various corporate purposes, such as financing expansion plans, reducing debt, or funding acquisitions.
- Discounted Price: Rights shares are often offered at a discounted price compared to the prevailing market price to incentivize shareholders to participate in the offering.
- Record Date: The record date is set to determine which shareholders are eligible to participate in the rights issue. Shareholders who own shares before the record date are entitled to receive subscription rights.
- Subscription Period: Shareholders are given a specific period, known as the subscription period, during which they can exercise their subscription rights by purchasing additional shares.
- Transferability: Subscription rights are transferable, which means shareholders can sell their rights in the open market if they choose not to exercise them.
- Impact on Ownership: Rights issues may dilute the ownership percentage of existing shareholders if they do not fully subscribe to their entitlement of rights shares.
- Regulatory Approval: Companies must obtain regulatory approval and comply with relevant securities laws and regulations before conducting a rights issue.
Stock split: -
A stock split is a corporate action in which a company increases the number of its outstanding shares by dividing its existing shares into multiple shares.
- Purpose: Stock splits are typically undertaken to make the company’s shares more affordable and increase liquidity in the market. They do not change the overall value of the company.
- Example: In a 2-for-1 stock split, each existing share is split into two shares. Similarly, in a 3-for-1 stock split, each existing share is split into three shares. The split ratio can vary depending on the company’s decision.
- Impact on Shareholders: A stock split does not affect the proportionate ownership stake of existing shareholders. For example, if a shareholder owns 100 shares before a 2-for-1 stock split, they will own 200 shares after the split, but the total value of their investment remains the same.
- Liquidity: By increasing the number of shares outstanding, stock splits can enhance the liquidity of the company’s shares in the market, potentially attracting more investors.
- Psychological Impact: Stock splits are often perceived positively by investors as they lower the price per share, making the stock more accessible to a broader range of investors.
- Reasons for Split: Companies may opt for a stock split when their share price has risen significantly, making it less affordable for retail investors, or to align the share price with industry peers.
- Reverse Stock Split: Conversely, a reverse stock split involves reducing the number of outstanding shares to increase the share price. This is typically done by companies to avoid delisting from stock exchanges due to low share prices or to regain compliance with listing requirements.
Bear market: -
A bear market refers to a condition in the financial markets characterized by a prolonged decline in prices, typically measured by a decrease of at least 20% from the recent peak.
- Definition: A bear market is marked by pessimism, investor uncertainty, and a downward trend in asset prices.
- Trigger: Bear markets can be triggered by various factors, including economic recessions, geopolitical tensions, changes in monetary policy, or corporate earnings downturns.
- Duration: Bear markets can last for weeks, months, or even years, depending on the underlying economic and market conditions.
- Impact: During a bear market, investors may experience significant losses in their investment portfolios, leading to a decline in consumer confidence and economic activity.
- Investor Sentiment: Fear, uncertainty, and negative sentiment prevail in bear markets, leading to selling pressure and downward price momentum.
- Hedging Strategies: Investors may employ hedging strategies, such as short selling, put options, or moving to defensive sectors, to mitigate losses during bear markets.
Bull market: -
A bull market is a financial market condition characterized by rising asset prices and investor optimism over an extended period.
- Definition: In a bull market, prices of securities, such as stocks, bonds, and commodities, generally trend upward, driven by positive investor sentiment and economic growth.
- Features: Bull markets are marked by confidence, optimism, and a favorable outlook for future returns.
- Causes: Bull markets can be fueled by factors such as strong corporate earnings, low interest rates, positive economic indicators, or government stimulus measures.
- Duration: Bull markets can last for months or years, with periodic corrections or pullbacks along the way.
- Investor Behavior: During a bull market, investors may exhibit a “buying on dips” mentality, expecting prices to continue rising, which can lead to further appreciation in asset prices.
- Investment Strategies: Investors may adopt strategies such as buy-and-hold, dollar-cost averaging, or momentum investing to capitalize on the upward trend in asset prices.
- Risk Management: Despite the positive sentiment, investors should remain cautious and employ risk management techniques to protect their portfolios in case of a market downturn.
Buy: -
Buying in the stock market refers to the act of purchasing securities, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities, with the expectation of profiting from future price appreciation or income generation.
- Purpose: Investors buy securities based on various factors, including perceived value, growth potential, dividend yield, or trading opportunities.
- Strategies: Different investment strategies, such as value investing, growth investing, or income investing, may influence the decision to buy specific securities.
- Risk Management: Investors should conduct thorough research, assess their risk tolerance, and consider factors such as market trends, company fundamentals, and economic indicators before making buy decisions.
Sell: -
Selling in the stock market involves disposing of securities that an investor owns, with the intention of realizing gains, cutting losses, or rebalancing their investment portfolio.
- Purpose: Investors sell securities for various reasons, such as locking in profits, managing risk, raising cash, or reallocating assets.
- Strategies: Selling decisions may be influenced by technical indicators, fundamental analysis, market sentiment, or changes in personal financial goals.
- Timing: Investors should consider factors such as market conditions, valuation metrics, and their investment objectives when determining the optimal time to sell securities.
- Discipline: Having a predetermined exit strategy and sticking to it can help investors avoid emotional decision-making and maintain discipline in their investment approach.
Averaging down: -
Averaging down is a strategy where an investor adds to a losing stock position by purchasing additional shares at a lower price in order to reduce the average cost per share.
- Purpose: The goal of averaging down is to lower the average share price of a position, potentially improving the investor’s breakeven point and increasing the likelihood of eventual profitability.
- Risks: Averaging down carries risks, as it requires committing additional capital to a declining investment. If the stock continues to decline, it can lead to further losses.
- Considerations: Investors should carefully assess the reasons for the stock’s decline, the company’s fundamentals, and the potential for recovery before averaging down. It’s essential to have a clear exit strategy in place to limit potential losses and manage risk effectively.
Margin: -
Margin in investing refers to the practice of borrowing money from a brokerage firm to purchase securities, such as stocks, bonds, or options.
- Definition: Margin allows investors to leverage their investment capital by borrowing funds from their broker, with the securities held in the account serving as collateral for the loan.
- Margin Trading: Margin trading involves buying securities using borrowed funds, thereby amplifying potential gains (and losses). It enables investors to increase their purchasing power and potentially enhance returns.
- Margin Requirements: Brokerage firms impose margin requirements, specifying the amount of equity that must be maintained in the account relative to the borrowed funds. Failure to meet margin requirements may lead to margin calls or forced liquidation of securities.
- Risks: While margin trading can magnify profits, it also increases the level of risk. Investors may incur significant losses if the value of their investments declines, especially if they are unable to meet margin calls or manage their positions effectively.
- Regulation: Margin trading is subject to regulatory oversight, with rules and regulations established by regulatory bodies to ensure investor protection and maintain market stability.
Portfolio: -
A portfolio refers to a collection or grouping of financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, or other investments, held by an individual or entity.
- Composition: Portfolios may contain a diverse range of assets, selected based on investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial goals.
- Ownership: Portfolios can be held directly by individual investors or managed by financial professionals, such as investment advisors, wealth managers, or portfolio managers.
- Diversification: Portfolio diversification involves spreading investments across different asset classes, sectors, regions, and investment styles to reduce risk and enhance potential returns.
- Management: Portfolio management involves the selection, allocation, and monitoring of investments within a portfolio to achieve desired objectives, such as capital appreciation, income generation, or risk mitigation.
- Performance Evaluation: Investors regularly assess their portfolio performance by monitoring investment returns, risk metrics, and other key performance indicators (KPIs). Performance evaluation helps investors make informed decisions about portfolio rebalancing, asset allocation adjustments, and investment strategy refinement.
