Stocks and ETFs
Float
The shares of a public company that are actually available for trading by the public.
Also called: public float
What it means
A company’s float is the number of shares that can generally be bought and sold by regular investors. It excludes certain shares that are locked up or closely held by insiders or large controlling owners.
Why it matters
A smaller float can sometimes make a stock move more sharply because fewer shares are actively trading.