Public
Definition of 'Public'A reference to anything that can be possessed or freely researched by any person or group of people in the general population. The term public is most commonly used to describe a company's shares or any other type of financial instrument that trades in the secondary markets. In other words, any securities that trade on an exchange and can be bought or sold by anyone in the general population are referred to as publicly traded securities. |
|
Investopedia explains 'Public'There are thousands of companies that have shares and financial products that are available to be bought or sold by the public. These companies must file reports that meet the strict requirements of the Securities And Exchange Commission. As a result of the requirements and regulations, public companies tend to be more transparent and subject to much more public scrutiny than private companies. |
Related Definitions
Articles Of Interest
-
How does privatization affect a company's shareholders?
The most recognized transition between the private and public markets is an initial public offering (IPO). Through an IPO, a private company "goes public" by issuing shares, which transfer a ... -
What's the difference between publicly- and privately-held companies?
Privately-held companies are - no surprise here - privately held. This means that, in most cases, the company is owned by the company's founders, management or a group of private investors. A ... -
What does 'going public' mean?
Going public refers to a private company's initial public offering (IPO), thus becoming a publicly traded and owned entity. Businesses usually go public to raise capital in hopes of expanding; ... -
IPO Basics Tutorial
What's an IPO, and how did everybody get so rich off them during the dotcom boom? We give you the scoop. -
The NYSE And Nasdaq: How They Work
Learn some of the important differences in the way these exchanges operate and the securities that trade on them. -
Are The NYSE Trading Floor's Days Numbered?
The Intercontinental Exchange plans to buy the NYSE Euronextfor $8.2 billion. This article examines the implications of the potential sale. -
Has High Frequency Trading Ruined The Stock Market For The Rest Of Us?
HFT is a controversial trading strategy. This article looks at how HFT affects the retail investor. -
Stock Exchanges Around The World
We tell you about five of the most popular stock exchanges from around the globe. -
Trading In The Pre- And Post-Market Sessions
After-hours trading may have benefits for traders, but there are some potential problems. -
How are share prices set?
When a company goes public though an initial public offering (IPO), an investment bank evaluates the company's current and projected performance and health to determine the value of the IPO for ...
Free Annual Reports