Investing glossary
Plain-language definitions of the investing terms you meet in filings, in the news and in Finzer.
17 terms, all of them on this page
T
Target-Date Fund
A target-date fund is a diversified mutual fund or ETF that automatically adjusts its asset mix as you approach a specific retirement year. Learn how they work, what drives performance, and when they help-or hurt-your portfolio.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Tax-loss harvesting is the strategy of selling investments at a loss to offset capital gains taxes. Learn how it works, when it helps, and how to use it without tripping IRS rules.
Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is the study of price, volume, and market data to forecast future price movements. Learn how traders actually use it, what drives signals, and when it works-or doesn’t.
Ticker Symbol
A ticker symbol is a short, unique code that identifies a publicly traded security on a specific exchange. Learn how ticker symbols work, why they change, and how investors actually use them.
Time Value of Money
The time value of money means a dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future because it can earn a return. Learn how it drives investing decisions, valuations, and smarter trade-offs over time.
Total Assets
Total assets are the full value of everything a company owns, as reported on its balance sheet at a specific date. Learn how investors use total assets to judge scale, risk, efficiency, and balance-sheet strength.
Total Expense Ratio
Total Expense Ratio (TER) is the annual percentage of a fund’s assets used to cover operating costs. Learn how it eats into returns, what drives it, and how to use it to pick better funds.
Total Liabilities
Total liabilities are the sum of everything a company owes-short-term and long-term-on its balance sheet. Learn how to analyze them, what drives changes, and how investors use them to judge risk.
Total Shareholder Return
Total Shareholder Return measures the full return an investor earns from a stock, including price appreciation and dividends. Learn how to calculate it, compare companies, and use it to make better investment decisions.
Tracking Error
Tracking error measures how closely a portfolio follows its benchmark, expressed as the volatility of return differences. Learn why it matters, what causes it, and how investors should actually use it.
Trade Balance
A trade balance measures the difference between a country’s exports and imports over a given period. Learn how it affects currencies, markets, and investment decisions.
Trailing Stop
A trailing stop is a dynamic sell order that moves with a stock’s price to lock in gains while limiting downside risk. Learn how it works, when to use it, and how smart investors avoid its biggest traps.
Trailing Twelve Months
Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) measures a company’s financial results over the most recent 12-month period, updated every quarter. Learn how investors use TTM to value stocks, compare performance, and avoid stale data.
Treasury Bond
A Treasury bond is a U.S. government debt security with a maturity of 20 or 30 years that pays fixed interest every six months. Learn how Treasury bonds work, what drives their prices, and how investors actually use them.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are U.S. government bonds that adjust principal with inflation based on CPI. Learn how they work, when they help, and when they don’t.
Trend Following
Trend following is an investment strategy that buys assets rising over time and sells those falling, typically using price-based rules like moving averages. Learn how it works, why it succeeds, and how investors actually use it.
Trendline
A trendline is a straight line drawn on a price chart to connect key highs or lows and show the direction of a market trend. Learn how investors use trendlines to time entries, manage risk, and spot trend breaks early.