# Stock Ticker Key: `finance.securities.ticker` Stock ticker symbol — the short exchange identifier for a listed security (AAPL, MSFT, BRK-B). 1-7 uppercase letters, optionally with a class-share suffix (BRK-B, BF.B), or 1-6 digits for the numeric tickers of the Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai exchanges (0005, 7203, 600519). No check digit, and the shape confirms every short uppercase token (a US state code, a currency, an arbitrary code all clear it) and now every 1-6-digit integer, which is why a detector keeps the alphabetic shape for discrimination. The published listed-symbol set is the substance (Precision Principle). US-listed for now (SEC company\_tickers.json); other venues compose additively behind this same type. Page: Samples: `AAPL`, `MSFT`, `NVDA`, `BRK-B`, `TSLA` ## Background ### Origin The term ticker refers to the noise made by the ticker tape machines once widely used by stock exchanges.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) The first ticker symbol was used in 1867, following the invention of the ticker tape machine by Edward Calahan.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) The allocation of ticker symbols and their formatting conventions is specific to each stock exchange.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) In the US, stock tickers are typically between 1 and 4 letters and represent the company name where possible.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) Nasdaq's symbol directory defines the symbol of a Nasdaq-listed security as the one to four or five character identifier for that security.[[2]](https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/trader.aspx?id=symboldirdefs) In Europe, most exchanges use three-letter codes.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) In the United Kingdom, prior to 1996, stock codes were known as EPICs.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) ### Use Berkshire Hathaway's Class A and Class B shares are marked by a letter following a period, as BRK.A and BRK.B.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) The SEC's company\_tickers.json file lists Berkshire Hathaway Inc under the ticker BRK-B, with a hyphen.[[3]](https://www.sec.gov/files/company_tickers.json) Nasdaq's otherlisted.txt file lists Brown Forman Inc Class B Common Stock under the symbol BF.B.[[4]](https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/dynamic/symdir/otherlisted.txt) Nasdaq's symbol directory definitions say typical identifiers have a 1-5 character root symbol and then 1-3 characters for suffixes.[[2]](https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/trader.aspx?id=symboldirdefs) Check ticker values against a published symbol list rather than trusting their shape alone. (Meridian's view) Although stock tickers identify a security, they are exchange-dependent, generally limited to stocks, and can change.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) Ticker symbols are sometimes reused.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) Since March 2008, Visa Inc. has used the symbol V that had previously been used by Vivendi.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) Ticker symbols sometimes change to reflect mergers.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) The ISIN identifies the security, not the exchange on which it trades, and so is not a replacement for the ticker symbol.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) Keep a ticker together with its exchange and an as-of date, and join on a more durable identifier such as a CIK or ISIN where the data carries one. (Meridian's view) The SEC's Accessing EDGAR Data page describes company\_tickers.json as a data file for ticker, CIK, EDGAR conformed company name associations.[[5]](https://www.sec.gov/search-filings/edgar-search-assistance/accessing-edgar-data) The SEC states that it periodically updates its ticker association files but does not guarantee their accuracy or scope.[[5]](https://www.sec.gov/search-filings/edgar-search-assistance/accessing-edgar-data) ### Where you'll meet it The SEC's company\_tickers.json lists tickers such as NVDA and AAPL alongside a CIK number and a company title.[[3]](https://www.sec.gov/files/company_tickers.json) ## Sources 1. [Ticker symbol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticker_symbol) — secondary source 2. [Symbol Directory Definitions](https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/trader.aspx?id=symboldirdefs) — documentation 3. [company\_tickers.json](https://www.sec.gov/files/company_tickers.json) — dataset 4. [otherlisted.txt](https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/dynamic/symdir/otherlisted.txt) — dataset 5. [Accessing EDGAR Data](https://www.sec.gov/search-filings/edgar-search-assistance/accessing-edgar-data) — documentation