Investing, UND-WHY
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
Understanding mutual fund expense ratios
The expense ratio of a mutual fund is the percentage of your investment that goes toward fees. It can be found......
Understanding mutual funds: Types, investing styles, fees, and other basics
A mutual fund is a collection of investments, such as stocks and bonds, that you can buy as a single investment.......
Understanding public benefit corporations: Profit with a purpose
Public benefit corporations (PBCs) are for-profit corporations structured to balance profit with a stated public......
Understanding the complexities of exchange-traded notes (ETNs)
Exchange-traded notes (ETNs) sound a lot like exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but donât confuse these two investment......
Using Porterâs 5 forces to analyze stocks and identify market leaders
When we think of stock analysis, we typically think of common measures like the price-to-earnings ratio, return......
Utilities sector: Investing in basic services that make life better
When you lift the handle on a faucet, flip on a light switch, or set your homeâs thermostat, you expect water to......
Video streaming services: Whoâs who and whatâs next?
The proliferation of streaming services has left many consumers scratching their heads, wondering just which ones......
Volatility index ETFs and ETNs: Understanding the risks
In the world of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), thereâs one (or more) for pretty much any sector, industry, subgroup,......
Wall Streetâs winged icons: How hawks and doves shape the economy
Bulls and bears may be the classic icons on Wall Street, but circling above the broader landscape are two avians......
Want to be an activist investor? As a shareholder, start with proxy voting
Want to have a say in how a public company is managed? If youâre a shareholder, vote by proxy. Proxy voting is......
What are closed-end funds, and are they risky?
Looking to invest in a fund that offers high yields and a chance for capital appreciation? You might like to consider......
What are commodities? The raw materials driving the global economy
Commodities such as copper, crude oil, natural gas, soybeans, and sugar are the raw ingredients that feed and power......
What are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and how do they work? An investor guide
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are ready-made collections of stocks, bonds, and/or other assets that trade throughout......
What are junk bonds? The risks and rewards of high-yield fixed income
If youâve ever tuned into the financial news on a regular basis, youâve probably heard the term junk bonds now......
What does the monthly jobs report tell us and why is it so important?
The monthly jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor provides a useful snapshot of how many jobs the economy......
What housing market data can indicate about the broader economy
About 65% of Americans own their homes, spending massive amounts to buy, furnish, and maintain their humble (and......
What is a business development company? Understanding public and private BDCs
Business development companies (BDCs) are investment entities that focus on supporting smaller private enterprises.......
What is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) report?
Looking to measure how a companyâs marketing about its sustainability practices matches up with reality? Turn to......
What is a DPO? Taking a direct approach to the public markets
Initial public offerings, or IPOs, are a well-traveled road that many companies use to sell shares to the public......
What is a fiduciary financial advisor?
Fiduciary. It sounds official, doesnât it? Like those 19th century bankers in their three-piece suits and bowler......
What is a fixed-income ladder?
Have you heard of fixed-income laddering? Itâs an advanced strategy that structures your investments in fixed-income......
What is a value chain, and how can you use it to make better investment decisions?
Imagine two brands of home coffee makers. Both appliances go through similar steps in their production. Yet, according......
What is dollar cost averaging?
Dollar cost averaging is an investment strategy in which you divide the total amount youâd like to invest into......
What is investment banking? Connecting investors to corporate growth
Investment banking is a business that facilitates capital markets and the larger financial community. Investment......
What is preferred stock, and how does it differ from common stock?
Preferred stock is a type of security that can grant special benefits to its holders. Preferred shares also have......
What is private credit? A guide to direct lending
When investors look to yield-bearing assets in the alternative debt universe, itâs usually to pursue higher yields......
What is reshoring, and why are American companies shifting toward it?
Back in 1992, U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot warned thereâd be a âgiant sucking soundâ of U.S. jobs heading......
What is stagflation? A double whammy of headwinds
When it comes to understanding how monetary policy works, many of us understand, and even expect, the simplified......
What is the industrial production and capacity utilization report?
Itâs a popular myth that manufacturing no longer matters in the U.S. economy. Although China is the worldâs largest......
What is the U.S. monthly retail sales report and why does it matter?
Did you buy anything last month, like groceries, clothing, or a knickknack for the shelf in the corner? How about......
What to know about artificial intelligence and regulation
Whether youâre excited about artificial intelligence (AI), frightened by it, or a little bit of bothâyou may be......
What to know about leveraged and inverse ETFs
When youâre investing, taking risks can bring rewardsâor losses. Inverse and leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs)......
Whatâs the yield curve? Charting interest rates and the economy
The âyield curveâ might sound like something you learned and forgot about in driverâs ed, but itâs actually an......
When the economy goes south: Recessions, explained
Thereâs a joke in economic circles that a recession is when your neighbor loses their job, and a depression is......
When trade policy turns contentious: Tariffs, currency devaluation, and other trade barriers
If youâve ever studied economics or listened to a group of economists speak, you know how hard it is to get universal......
Why corporate governance matters in ESG investing
Corporate governance is the often-overlooked G in ESG investing, an approach that incorporates environmental, social,......
Why emerging markets might be worth owning in a diversified portfolio
Emerging market (EM) shares could give your portfolio a long-term tailwind, providing exposure to companies in......
Why stars are becoming dealmakers
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on July 26, 2026.......