Market Basics
Ticker Symbol
The short code used to identify a publicly traded security.
Also called: ticker, symbol
What it means
A ticker symbol is the set of letters used to identify a stock, ETF, or other publicly traded investment on an exchange. For example, companies and funds are often referred to by their ticker because it is faster than using the full name.
Why it matters
Users need ticker symbols to find the correct company or fund, especially when several names sound similar.