Profit Also called net income or net earnings. Publicly held Companies whose shares are held widely, and can be freely transferred. Return on equity Profit divided by shareholder equity, or investment. Considered by some the best financial ratio for determining how well stockholders are being served. Revenue Sales of a company.
Companies also incorporate interest and dividend income, and grant and contract money.
A Seattle Times propriety weighting system is then applied to arrive at the final figure. Most commonly means stocks or bonds, but they can be any financial investment. Securities and Exchange Commission Federal regulator of securities. Short sale Selling a stock you borrow from a broker. You expect to profit by buying the stock at a lower price later.