Financial Education and Stock Market Guides
Plain-language guides for beginners and experienced readers.
Understanding the stock market
A stock is a share of ownership in a company. Exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq match buyers and sellers. Prices move when buyers and sellers change their view of a company’s future earnings.
How stock indexes work
An index tracks a group of stocks. The S&P 500 is weighted by company size (market capitalization). The Dow Jones Industrial Average is price-weighted across 30 companies. The Nasdaq Composite covers most Nasdaq-listed stocks. You cannot invest in an index directly; funds that track one exist.
Market news and price movements
Prices react to surprises relative to expectations. A company can report higher profit and still fall if analysts expected more. Be careful with explanations offered after a move; they are often guesses.
Financial research methods
Use primary sources first: annual and quarterly filings, then company statements, then commentary. Our research guide gives a step-by-step method.
Understanding trading platforms
A brokerage executes orders. A news or research platform, such as Benzinga Pro, provides information but does not execute trades (confirm current features on the official pages). Know which tool does what before paying for either.
Stock screening fundamentals
Start with few, meaningful filters, then research the short list. Too many filters give an empty list; too few give a long one.
Financial market terminology
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Market capitalization | Share price × shares outstanding |
| P/E ratio | Share price divided by earnings per share |
| Volume | Number of shares traded in a period |
| Bid / ask | Highest price a buyer offers / lowest price a seller accepts |
| Float | Shares available for public trading |
| Dividend | Share of profits paid to shareholders |
| Volatility | How much a price moves up and down |
Sources and further information
Educational content only; not investment, financial, legal or tax advice. See our Financial Disclaimer.