Investing glossary
Plain-language definitions of the investing terms you meet in filings, in the news and in Finzer.
12 terms, all of them on this page
A
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable is money customers owe a company for goods or services already delivered but not yet paid for. Learn how it affects cash flow, earnings quality, and stock analysis.
Active Management
Active management is an investment approach where portfolio managers make ongoing buy and sell decisions to outperform a benchmark. Learn how it works, when it adds value, and how to use it wisely.
Activist Investor
An activist investor is a shareholder who acquires a meaningful stake in a company to push for strategic, financial, or governance changes. Learn how activism works, why it moves stocks, and how to respond as a retail investor.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, modified to exclude selected one-time or non-operating items. Learn how it’s calculated, why companies use it, and how investors should-and shouldn’t-rely on it.
Alpha
Alpha measures how much an investment outperforms or underperforms its benchmark, adjusted for risk. Learn how alpha is generated, measured, and actually used by investors.
Alternative Data
Alternative data is non-traditional information-like web traffic, satellite images, or credit card spending-used to analyze companies and markets. Learn how investors use it, its limits, and how to apply it intelligently.
Alternative Trading System
An alternative trading system is a regulated trading venue that matches buyers and sellers outside traditional stock exchanges. Learn how ATSs work, why institutions use them, and what they mean for retail investors.
Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is how an investment portfolio is split across asset classes like stocks, bonds, and cash. Learn how it drives returns, manages risk, and how to use it in real portfolios.
Asset Turnover
Asset turnover measures how efficiently a company uses its assets to generate revenue, calculated as revenue divided by average total assets. Learn how to interpret it, compare companies, and avoid common investor traps.
Assets
Assets are resources owned by an individual or company that have economic value and can generate future benefits. Learn how assets work, why they matter for investors, and how to analyze them in practice.
Austerity
Austerity is a government policy of cutting spending and/or raising taxes to reduce budget deficits and stabilize public debt. Learn how austerity works, why it matters for markets, and how investors should respond.
Authorized Participant
An Authorized Participant is a large financial institution that can create or redeem ETF shares directly with the fund sponsor. Learn how APs keep ETF prices in line and why that matters for your trades.