Ticker Symbol

A ticker is the short code assigned to a listed security — AAPL for Apple, TSLA for Tesla. In some markets a six-digit numeric code plays the same role.

These symbols exist because company names are long and easily confused. Several firms may share a similar name, but each ticker is unique, which reduces the risk of buying the wrong one.

Note that the same company can carry different tickers on different exchanges, and that separately listed common and preferred shares get separate tickers. A single trailing letter can mean an entirely different security.

People do buy the wrong stock through a mistyped ticker, and it happens regularly — usually mistaking a similarly named small cap for the large one. Check that the name and the ticker match before you place the order. Tickers can also change when a company renames or merges. Searching an old document's ticker may bring up a different company entirely, so treat stale references with care.