Financial Glossary
Quick definitions for the metrics and concepts you see in StockLrn.
Goodwill
An intangible asset representing the premium paid over fair market value in an acquisition.
Depreciation
The allocation of a tangible asset's cost over its useful life.
Amortization
The gradual write-off of an intangible asset's cost or a loan principal over time.
Working Capital
The difference between current assets and current liabilities, measuring short-term liquidity.
Current Ratio
A liquidity ratio comparing current assets to current liabilities.
Return on Equity
A profitability metric measuring net income as a percentage of shareholders' equity.
Strike Price
The predetermined price at which an option holder can buy or sell the underlying asset.
Options Premium
The price paid by the buyer to the seller for an options contract.
Implied Volatility
The market's forecast of the likely magnitude of a stock's price movement, reflected in option prices.
Options Greeks
Metrics (Delta, Gamma, Theta, Vega, Rho) that measure different risk dimensions of an options position.
Yield Curve
A graph showing interest rates across different bond maturities.
Financial Statements
Core reports that show profitability, balance sheet strength, and cash generation over time.
Income Statement
A report of revenue, expenses, and profit over a period (quarter or year).
Balance Sheet
A snapshot of assets, liabilities, and equity at a point in time.
Cash Flow Statement
Tracks cash generated and used by operations, investing, and financing.
Bond Yield
The return an investor earns on a bond, expressed as an annual percentage.
Coupon Rate
The annual interest rate paid by a bond issuer on the bond's face value.
Municipal Bonds
Debt securities issued by state and local governments, often offering tax-exempt interest income.
Gross Domestic Product
The total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country over a period.
Federal Funds Rate
The interest rate at which banks lend reserves to each other overnight, set by the Federal Reserve.
Consumer Price Index
A measure that tracks the average change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services.
Market Maker
A firm that provides liquidity by continuously quoting buy and sell prices for a security.
Dark Pool
A private exchange where large institutional orders are executed without pre-trade transparency.
Bid-Ask Spread
The difference between the highest price a buyer will pay and the lowest price a seller will accept.
Order Book
A real-time list of all outstanding buy and sell orders for a security at various price levels.
Institutional Ownership
The portion of shares held by large institutions like mutual funds and asset managers.
Securities and Exchange Commission
The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating securities markets and protecting investors.
FINRA
A self-regulatory organization overseeing U.S. broker-dealers and their registered representatives.
Fiduciary Duty
A legal obligation to act in the best interest of another party, such as a client or beneficiary.
Accredited Investor
An individual or entity that meets SEC financial thresholds to invest in unregistered securities.
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