You probably already know that a stock—also called a share—represents a small piece of ownership in a publicly traded company. But what about a stock quote?
What is a stock quote?
A stock quote gives you a quick, up-to-the-minute snapshot of how a publicly traded company’s stock is performing. It updates throughout the trading day and helps investors stay current with what’s happening in real time for a stock.
A typical stock quote includes the stock’s current price, how much the price has changed (in dollars and percentage), the exchange it trades on, and other key company and market details. You’ll often find historical context—like 52-week highs and lows, average trading volume, and even analysts’ estimates. Many quotes also show recent headlines and analyst reports to give you more insight into what may be driving the stock’s movements. Check out this video to learn some basics.
How does a stock quote work?
Many stock quotes include charts that visually track a stock’s price over different time periods. These charts can help you spot trends—whether you want to focus on a single day or span several years.
When you’re looking at quotes during market hours, you’ll likely see red and green indicators. Green usually signals that the price is going up, while red means it’s down. These color cues make it easier to understand how the price is moving at a glance.
Be sure to check what the price is being compared to—yesterday’s closing price, the previous week, or something else. For example, a stock might be down compared to yesterday, but still higher than the price you paid last year.
How to get a stock quote
You can find a stock quote on almost any investing website or app—all you need is the company’s ticker symbol.
It’s easy to find a stock quote on Fidelity.com. Simply search for the ticker symbol and you’ll be directed to the quote page with key details about the company and its performance.
How to read a stock quote
When you’re new to stock quotes, it helps to break them down into individual pieces of information.
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you may find it easier to interpret the rest of the quote.
Why are stock quotes important?
Stock quotes matter because they show you how a company’s stock is performing—right now and over time. Investors use this information to help decide whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, and to get a better sense of where a company stands in the market. Take the time to consider why you are investing in a particular company, and establish your exit strategy.
What is the stock price?
The stock price is the most recent price at which the stock traded. It updates during market hours and often changes frequently during the day. While the stock price is important, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. It’s usually not a good idea to make investing decisions on price alone. Short-term fluctuations—especially for day trading—can be risky.
How to compare stock quotes
It might feel natural to compare 2 companies just by looking at their stock prices, but price alone doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to evaluating the value of a stock. For example, a stock priced at $15 isn’t necessarily better or worse than one priced at $45.
Instead, percentage changes and market capitalization (market cap) can be more helpful for comparisons. Market cap—calculated by multiplying the stock price by the number of outstanding shares—shows you the company’s overall size. Comparing companies of similar size helps ensure you’re evaluating them on a more meaningful basis.
How to benchmark with quotes
You’ve probably heard of major market indexes like the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the Nasdaq Composite Index. These indexes track groups of companies and are commonly used as benchmarks. When you compare your stock’s performance against an index, you can get a sense of how it’s doing relative to the broader market. Most stock research sites and apps include index information to help make these easy comparisons.
How to invest in stocks
If you’re thinking about investing in stocks, start by exploring the different types of stocks and the potential risks they may have. Research the companies you’re interested in and only invest money you’re comfortable putting at risk.
If you have a Fidelity account, you can use Fidelity’s research tool to dig into company fundamentals, industry data, analyst insights, and more—so you can invest with more confidence.
Stocks are just one type of investment. Most investors build portfolios that include a mix of different investment types to help manage risk. If you’re new to investing, it can help to start by identifying your goals. Fidelity’s Learning Center offers plenty of resources to guide you through the basics.