Investing, IN -UND
Investing is about identifying opportunities for long-term growth of your portfolio. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments such as commodities and real estate, are part of a vast market ecosystem.
Investing Encyclopedia Articles By Title
In the market for a financial advisor? Here are 8 questions to ask
When it comes to your finances, are you comfortable acting as captain of your own ship? Or would you feel better......
Industrials sector: Investing in big companies that do big things
When envisioning the pillars of American industry, numerous products and services come to mind: heavy machinery......
Inflation impact: Rising prices project strength, but too much is painful
These days, you canât tune into TV or social media without hearing about inflation. But what is inflation, why......
Inflation, deflation, and the âGoldilocks scenarioâ
No one likes paying more for something than they did last month or last year. Still, a little inflation is arguably......
Inside the corporate bond market: A comprehensive overview
When it comes to raising money to fund operations and/or strategic initiatives, companies have two basic choices......
Insider transaction reports: What stock deals can tell you about a company
Wish you were a fly on the wall when executives make decisions about their companyâs future? You can be, in a way.......
Introduction to financial markets: What are markets, and why do they exist?
Markets have been around for centuries as buyers and sellers came together to exchange goods. Originally, market......
Investing for beginners: Stocks, bonds, alternatives, & risk
If youâve got goals, youâve got reasons to invest. Whether itâs a down payment on a home, a plan to start your......
Investing in chip stocks: What are semiconductors?
From the oldest calculator lying forgotten in your junk drawer, to the most advanced artificial intelligence (AI)......
Investing in Series I savings bonds: Pros and cons of inflation-linked securities
When inflation rears its ugly head, itâs hard to find anythingâstocks, bonds, even âjunkâ bondsâwith a yield that......
Investing in speculative start-up stocks? 14 alternative fundamentals to follow
You just bought shares in a hot new company whose stock price, you believe, has the potential to go sky-high. As......
Investing in tech sector stocks: A beginnerâs guide
The information technology (IT) sector is perhaps the most expansive and progressive of the 11 Global Industry......
Investing with a robo-advisor
Robo investing is an automated way to manage your money in the marketâideal if youâd rather not research, monitor,......
Investing with your values
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on April 22, 2026.......
Investment types: Your building blocks for diversification
When considering investment types, investors typically think of the big three: stocks, bonds, and cash. Although......
IPO need-to-knows: Basics of initial public offerings
Initial public offerings, or IPOs, are a big deal in terms of dollars, media attention, and Wall Street pomp and......
Is 60/40 dead? An asset allocation method hits hard times
One of the first things you learn as a new investor is to seek the best portfolio mix. Many financial advisors......
Is a dividend investing strategy right for you?
Dividend stocksâshares of companies that prioritize those periodic payments to shareholdersâare a way to attract......
Jobless claims and JOLTS: Piecing together the job market jigsaw
Labor fuels the engines of economic production, and thatâs precisely why the monthly Employment Situation Summary......
K-shaped economy: When growth moves in two different directions
Hereâs a picture of two economies. In the first, consumer sentiment sinks to record lows as staple goods grow increasingly......
Labor force participation rate: Completing the employment picture
On the first Friday of every month, Wall Street zeroes in on the big âjobs reportââofficially called the Employment......
Let your cash DRIP into more shares: A guide to dividend reinvestment
When selecting stocks for your portfolio, do you concentrate on high-potential companies that seek high growth......
Market capitalization: Its impact on stocks and your investing strategy
A companyâs market capitalizationâor total outstanding share valueâmight not seem important when you buy the smartphone,......
Market makers: Keeping markets efficient, liquid, and robust
Have you ever noticed how quick and efficient it is to buy and sell most commonly traded stocks? You execute a......
Market volatility: Identifying and quantifying investment risks
When the going is goodâlots of good news, strong economic growth, healthy investment portfoliosâinvestors tend......
Micro-investing: Your gateway to financial empowerment?
Looking for a logical way to get started with investing? If you only have a few dollars to spare, then you may......
Momentum investing: Riding the wave of winning stocks
At any given time in the stock market, there are outperformers, underperformers, and those that perform commensurately......
Municipal bonds: Build a brighter future for your community and your savings
Suppose youâd like to help improve things in your local community. Maybe you want to help stimulate your townâs......
Need financial guidance? Here are 4 types of financial advisors
Finding a financial professional can be confusing. You may hear terms like financial advisor, certified financial......
Oil benchmarks: Why crude prices arenât one-size-fits-all
When geopolitical tensions put oil-producing countries in the headlines, oil and oil prices tend to be treated......
Oversight and management: The corporate C-suite and board of directors
Whatâs the difference between a companyâs chief executive officer (CEO) and its president? And what about the board......
Payment for order flow: How it works and why it matters
Thereâs a relatively new thing in the retail trading world called zero-commission trading. As far as what it offers,......
Portfolio beta weighting: What it is, why it matters, and how to use it
Suppose you hold a basket of equity investmentsâstocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)âas part of a diversified......
Portfolio diversification: What investors need to know
The old adage about not putting all your eggs in one basket is sage adviceâespecially when it comes to investing.......
Primary markets and secondary markets: Two important cogs in the wheel of capitalism
When you buy a new sweater at the Gap, youâre making a purchase on a primary marketâthat sweater had never been......
Private activity bonds: Bridging private capital and public needs
What if private investment could transform projects with public purpose? Private activity bonds (PABs) aim to do......
Private economic reports: What they can tell you about the economy
Government reports provide some of the most closely watched measures of the U.S. economy, from employment and inflation......
Private equity: What is it, and can I invest in it?
Private equity investing sounds like what it means: Investing in companies that are not publicly traded. But behind......
Quarterly earnings and earnings per share: The company profitability snapshot
Earnings season. Itâs the roughly three-week period in mid-to-late January, April, July, and October when most......
Rare earth metals: What are they, and are they a solid investment?
The topic of rare earth metals (or rare earth elements) may not be the hottest on Wall Street, but it seems to......
Read before investing: Why the prospectus matters
A prospectus is a document that is legally required for every publicly traded stock, mutual fund, and exchange-traded......
Read the room: Why quarterly earnings conference calls are worth a listen
The quarterly earnings conference call is a long-running practice for most U.S.-based, publicly traded companies.......
Ready to invest? A beginnerâs guide to managing a portfolio
So, youâre ready to investâbut how do you choose (and manage) your investments? Thatâs where portfolio management......
Real estate sector: Investing in stocks to keep you grounded
Thereâs an old saying that goes, âBuy land, theyâre not making it anymore.â But purchasing real estate often requires......
Regulation Best Interest: A rule to protect investors
Imagine youâre eating lunch with a friend who knows that youâre lactose intolerant. Your friend cares about you,......
Regulation of the OTC derivatives market: Before and after the Dodd-Frank Act
If youâre a casual participant in the financial markets, you may not have heard of the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives,......
REITs: Targeting income, capital appreciation, and diversification
As far as real estate platitudes go, âBuy landâtheyâre not making it anymoreâ might apply to you as an individual......
Retail investors vs. institutional investors: Bridging the divide
The financial markets can accommodate almost everyone, whether you are a young meme-stock trader buying a fractional......
Risk vs. reward: The first step toward measuring and managing risk
Risk versus rewardâitâs perhaps the toughest challenge in all of investing. Wouldnât it be great if the least risky......
Sales loads, 12b-1 fees, and more: A closer look at mutual fund fees
When you invest in a mutual fund, the fundâs management team allocates your investment across the stocks, bonds,......
Same fund, different costs: Understanding mutual fund share classes
When you search for a mutual fund on a fund companyâs website, you may find several versions of the same fund.......
Secured overnight financing rate (SOFR): Setting the variable interest rate standard
The secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) is an interest rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York......
Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC)
If you invest through a brokerage accountâincluding taxable investment accounts, individual retirement accounts,......
Series I savings bonds: Inflation protection from Uncle Sam
If you want hefty investment returns, you usually have to take on a fair amount of risk. But as inflation raged......
Shining a light on shadow banking: Benefits, risks, and regulations
Although the word âshadowâ might make it seem sketchy, shadow banking is a legitimate, important component of the......
Should I try to time the market? Tops, bottoms, and trends
Prevailing wisdom seems set against those attempting to clock a profit by timing the stock market. Thatâs why the......
Should you pay a financial advisor? 4 fee types and how they work
Working with a financial advisor can be a game changer, helping you to reach your financial goals more quickly.......
Slicing the market pie: How stock splits work and why they matter
If youâre just learning about stock splits, you may have heard some variation of the pizza analogy. It goes like......
SpaceX and the IPO moment
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on June 3, 2026.......
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs)
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) offers entrepreneurs a way to take their companies public without......
Starting your stock analysis? Here are the best financial ratios to watch
Youâre eyeing a stock that trades at $250. Is that an attractive price? Itâs hard to tell by just looking at the......
Statement of cash flows: Money spent on operations, financing, and investing
Do you have money tied up in stockâperhaps in the company you work for, or shares you bought because you like the......
Stock buybacks: The strategy behind share repurchases
When a company is sitting on excess cash, it has several choices besides keeping the money on ice. It can pay down......
Stock dividends: Seem like free money, but itâs a bit more complicated
A stock dividend is a regular payment you receive simply for owning shares of a certain company. In a way, itâs......
Stock index funds: Simplicity and lower fees, but youâre tied to index performance
The financial industry tracks stock indexes as a simple way to chart specific markets. But how can investors position......
Stock investment risk: Understanding systematic and idiosyncratic risks
Companies like to highlight their growth prospects. So do the analysts who tout their shares. But when it comes......
Stock market basics: Earnings and other key drivers of share prices
When you buy a share of stock, youâre essentially purchasing a partial ownership stake in a company. You get a......
Stock market indexes: Tracking Wall Street in real time and long term
Stock market indexes bundle hundreds or even thousands of stocks based on various parameters and compute their......
Stock sector performance and a sector investing example
Stock sector performance, like the market itself, isnât monolithic. Sectors rise and fall based on industry fundamentals......
Strategic and critical minerals: What they are and how to invest in them
In July 2025, a U.S. mining company made headlines with two major investments that underscore the increasing importance......
Supply chain management: From raw materials to retail
Take a look around your home. Almost every product you seeâfrom the simplest grocery item to the most sophisticated......
Systematic risk: The PRIME forces that move markets
Diversifying your portfolio is the investing equivalent of eating your vegetablesâitâs simple, sensible, and almost......
Tax-loss harvesting: Maximizing tax efficiency in your investment portfolio
Tax-loss harvesting is a financial strategy that has gained popularity among investors seeking to minimize their......
The alphabet soup of unemployment data: U-3, U-6, and beyond
For most of us, the concept of unemployment seems rather simple: Either youâre working or youâre not. If youâre......
The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery: How Paramount prevailed
Paramount Skydance prevailed in its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery after Warnerâs board of directors determined......
The broker and the exchange: Getting the order filled
Brokers help you access exchanges. In order to invest in the stock market, youâll need a broker to get your orders......
The Consumer Price Index goes thrifting
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on June 7, 2026.......
The corporate balance sheet: Assets, liabilities, and ownersâ equity
Unless you went to business schoolâor at least took an accounting or finance courseâyouâve probably never given......
The economics of drought
Hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are among the weather-related catastrophes that cause widespread death, destruction,......
The energy market: Oil, solar, and everything in between
The energy market powers homes, businesses, and entire economies, offering investors a way to invest in the resources......
The governmentâs stimulus toolbox: Fiscal and monetary policy
If the economy were a house, then production, consumption, investment, and savings would be the juices flowing......
The grand IPO rollout: Form S-1 and the transition from private to public
Apple. Microsoft. IBM. Amazon. The legends of American business are pretty much all publicly traded companiesâand......
The great debate: How growth vs. value stocks differ and why each could be worth owning
Growth versus value: Itâs the ultimate argument among stock investors, and over long time periods, they duke it......
The income statement: Money coming in and going out
Do you own your own business, or shares of stock in some of your favorite companies? Thatâs great, but how can......
The life cycle of a buy or sell order: How trades happen
Financial trading on todayâs platforms looks easy. Log into your account, hit that big green BUY button, and youâve......
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) market: From regional to global commodity
Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, has transformed natural gas from a regional to a global commodity. With that shift,......
The role of repurchase agreements (repos) and reverse repos in finance
Repurchase agreements (âreposâ)âand their counterparts, reverse reposâare somewhat complex transactions that are......
The rules for the job market have changed
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on October 7,......
The stock investorâs guide to Blue Ocean Strategy
The battle for market share often takes place within a relatively saturated and competitive environment. So you......
The swaps market: How companies manage interest rate and other risks with OTC derivatives
Suppose a company has a pile of long-term, fixed-rate debt, and they would prefer that some of it be of shorter......
Thinking about socially responsible investing? Hereâs what to know
Socially responsible investing has been around in various forms for decades. But since the concept became mainstream......
Top-down vs. bottom-up: Two paths to smarter stock picks
The stock market can feel like a complex machine with more moving parts than you can keep track of. Economic reports,......
Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS): Bonds that adjust with the cost of living
Investing in bonds that pay a fixed return seems like a smart and stable way to earn steady income. But over time,......
Treasury securities: Bonds, notes, and bills
The United States Treasury has been a mainstay for investors ever since George Washington named Alexander Hamilton......
TreasuryDirect: A place to find low-risk income while avoiding fees
TreasuryDirect is a U.S. Treasury Department website where you can buy Treasury securities directly from the government......
Understanding consumer confidence and consumer sentiment data
Each month, two reports aim to measure the âmoodâ of American households regarding both their own finances and......