What, exactly, is a stock's "float"? | Stock Discussion Forums

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Non-Tech
What, exactly, is a stock's "float"?

An SI Board Since December 1999

Posts	SubjectMarks	Bans
3	0	0

Emcee: brec	Type: Unmoderated

Introduction Compact

I know generally what the float of a stock is; it's the stock in public hands that is available for sale at a moment's notice, as opposed to stock held by insiders or stock that is outstanding but unregistered or otherwise unavailable to the public market.

But is there an exact definition of "float"? And what is the operational definition, i.e., how is the figure for a given stock's float that is reported by various market information services obtained?

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Reply	Message Preview	From	Recs	Posted
3	The 'float' is the amount of people living on a raft after losing it al	SteveJerseyShore	-	12/11/1999
2	Here's what I found in MarketGuide's glossary marketguide.com (MarketGu	brec	-	12/11/1999
1	Brec, I think it's shares outstanding less restricted shares (i.e., paid t	BudLong	-	12/10/1999

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