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Financial Word of the Day: Flag Pattern
Definition of a Flag Pattern
A Flag Pattern is a chart pattern in technical analysis that signals a short pause in a strong trend — like a pit stop before the market continues racing in the same direction. It looks just like it sounds: a small rectangular “flag” that forms after a sharp “flagpole” move up or down.

Larry Jones
Oct 72 min read


Financial Word of the Day: S&P 500
Definition of S&P 500
The S&P 500 (short for Standard & Poor’s 500) is one of the most well-known stock market indexes in the world. It tracks the performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States, covering industries like technology, healthcare, finance, energy, and consumer goods.

Larry Jones
Sep 112 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Index
Definition of an Index
An Index is a measurement tool that tracks the performance of a group of assets—usually stocks or bonds—so investors can see how a particular market or segment of the market is doing. Think of it as a financial scoreboard. The most famous indexes include the S&P 500, which follows 500 of the largest U.S. companies, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks 30 major corporations.

Larry Jones
Sep 92 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Volume
Definition of Volume
Volume is the number of shares (or contracts) traded in a security during a set time period (minute, day, week, etc.). It tells you how busy the market was for that ticker. More trades = higher volume.

Larry Jones
Sep 32 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Market Maker
Definition of Market Maker
A market maker is a firm (or algorithm) that constantly offers to buy and sell a stock, ETF, or option—posting two prices (a bid and an ask)—so there’s always someone on the other side of your trade. They earn a small profit from the spread between those two prices and keep the market moving.

Larry Jones
Sep 13 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Good Till Canceled (GTC)
Definition of Good Till Canceled
A Good ’Til Canceled (GTC) order is a standing instruction you place with your broker to buy or sell a security at a specific price that remains active until it’s executed or you cancel it. Depending on the broker, it can sit there for up to 30–90 days before auto-expiring (check your platform’s policy). In short: set it and don’t forget it.

Larry Jones
Aug 222 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Stop-Limit Order
Definition of Stop-Limit Order
A stop-limit order combines two instructions: a stop price that triggers your order, and a limit price that sets the worst price you’re willing to accept. When the stop price is hit, your order becomes a limit order—and it will only fill at the limit price or better. That gives you price control, but no guarantee the trade actually executes.

Larry Jones
Aug 212 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Stop Order
Definition of Stop Order
Want your investments to come with an “emergency brake”? That’s what a stop order does. It’s an instruction you place with your broker to buy or sell a security once it hits a specific stop price. When the stop price is reached, your order is activated—usually as a market order—to help you lock in gains or limit losses without staring at charts all day.

Larry Jones
Aug 203 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Stock Split
Definition of Stock Split
A stock split is a corporate action in which a company increases the number of its outstanding shares by issuing more shares to existing shareholders. Although the number of shares increases, the overall value of the company (market capitalization) stays the same. Think of it like cutting a pizza into more slices—more pieces, same amount of pizza.

Larry Jones
Aug 142 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Dividend Stock
Definition of Dividend Stock
A dividend stock is a share in a company that regularly pays out a portion of its profits to shareholders in the form of dividends—typically on a quarterly basis. These payments are usually made in cash, but can also come as additional shares of stock.

Larry Jones
Aug 112 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Value Stock
Definition of Value Stock
A value stock is a share of a company that appears to be trading for less than its intrinsic value. Think of it as a great company that’s momentarily on the clearance rack. Investors believe the stock is undervalued by the market and has solid fundamentals—like steady earnings, a strong balance sheet, and even dividends—but for whatever reason, Wall Street’s spotlight isn’t on it… yet.

Larry Jones
Aug 82 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Growth Stock
Definition of Growth Stock
A growth stock is a publicly traded company that is expected to grow at a rate significantly above the average for the overall market. These are the kinds of companies reinvesting their earnings back into the business instead of paying dividends, with the goal of expanding fast—think rocket fuel, not steady cruise.

Larry Jones
Aug 72 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Penny Stock
Definition of Penny Stock
A penny stock is typically a share of a small public company that trades for less than $5 per share. These stocks are often traded over-the-counter (OTC) through platforms like the OTC Bulletin Board or Pink Sheets, rather than on major exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq. Penny stocks are known for their low price, low trading volume, and high risk—but also the potential for high reward.

Larry Jones
Aug 62 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Blue Chip Stock
Definition of a Blue Chip Stock
A blue chip stock refers to shares of a well-established, financially sound, and nationally recognized company with a history of reliable performance. Think of them as the all-star players in the stock market—companies that are leaders in their industries, pay regular dividends, and have a track record of weathering economic storms.

Larry Jones
Aug 52 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Conglomerate
What is a Conglomerate?
A conglomerate is a large corporation made up of several distinct and often unrelated businesses, all operating under one parent company. Unlike a company that sticks to one specific industry, a conglomerate spreads its interests across different sectors.
Think of it as a financial “supergroup” — each division plays a different instrument, but they’re all under the same record label.

Larry Jones
Aug 42 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Holding Company
Definition of Holding Company
A Holding Company is a business entity that exists primarily to own shares in other companies. It doesn’t usually make products or offer services itself—instead, it holds controlling interest in other businesses.
Think of it like the parent who doesn’t run the lemonade stand but owns the stand… and the ice supplier… and the cup factory.

Larry Jones
Aug 12 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Parent Company
Definition of a Parent Company
A parent company is a corporation that owns enough voting stock in another company to control its policies and management. The company it controls is called a subsidiary.
Think of a parent company as the “boss” in the business family tree. While it may not run the day-to-day operations of its subsidiaries, it has the power to call the shots when it matters—like choosing leadership, approving budgets, or selling the business.

Larry Jones
Jul 312 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Subsidiary
Definition of Subsidiary
A subsidiary is a company that is controlled by another company, often referred to as the parent company. The parent usually owns more than 50% of the subsidiary’s voting stock, giving it control over business operations and decision-making.
Put simply: a subsidiary is a business “child” owned by a business “parent.”

Larry Jones
Jul 302 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Spin-off
Definition of Spin-off
A spin-off is a type of corporate action where a company creates a new, independent business by separating part of its operations, assets, or divisions into a new entity. The shareholders of the parent company typically receive shares in the new company on a pro-rata basis.

Larry Jones
Jul 282 min read


Financial Word of the Day: Acquisition
In financial and business terms, an acquisition usually refers to one company buying another. When Company A acquires Company B, it means A now owns B — its assets, customers, operations, and all the headaches that come with it.
But zoom out a bit: acquisitions aren’t just for Fortune 500 CEOs. Regular people like you and me can use this concept in powerful ways.

Larry Jones
Jul 252 min read
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