Investing glossary
Plain-language definitions of the investing terms you meet in filings, in the news and in Finzer.
10 terms, all of them on this page
O
Open-End Investment Fund
An open-end investment fund continuously issues and redeems shares at net asset value (NAV). Learn how they work, why liquidity matters, and how to use them smartly in a portfolio.
Operating Cash Flow
Operating cash flow is the cash a business generates from its core operations during a period. Learn how to analyze it, calculate it, and use it to spot real business strength-or red flags.
Operating Income
Operating income is a company’s profit from its core business after operating expenses, but before interest and taxes. Learn how to analyze it, why it matters, and how investors actually use it.
Operating Margin
Operating margin measures how much profit a company generates from its core business, expressed as a percentage of revenue. Learn how to interpret it, what drives it, and how investors use it to spot durable winners.
Opportunity Cost
Opportunity cost is the return you give up by choosing one investment, action, or use of capital over the best alternative. Learn how it quietly drives portfolio performance, capital allocation, and real-world investing decisions.
Options
Options are contracts that give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a set price before a specific date. Learn how options work, what drives their value, and how investors actually use them.
Options Contract
An options contract gives the buyer the right-but not the obligation-to buy or sell an asset at a set price before a specific date. Learn how options work, what drives their value, and how smart investors actually use them.
Order Book
An order book is a real-time list of buy and sell orders for a security, organized by price and size. Learn how to read it, what drives it, and how smart investors use it to gauge supply, demand, and market intent.
Order Routing
Order routing is the process by which a broker decides where to send your trade for execution. Learn how routing affects prices, fills, costs, and what smart investors should watch for.
Outstanding Shares
Outstanding shares are the total number of a company’s shares currently owned by investors, including institutions and insiders. Learn how they affect valuation, earnings per share, and real-world investing decisions.