Definition
XW indicates that the security trades without a document. This abbreviation means that the security does not come with any additional rights that it may have had originally. A security that has “XW” after its symbol is a security that trades without an attached document. Documents are financial instruments that grant additional rights to the security holder, so the security trading XW comes without those additional rights. For example, shares of XYZ may come with a document granting holders the right to purchase additional shares of XYZ at a specified price on a specific date in the future.
How does XW work?
Companies often sell documents as a means to raise additional capital. For instance, a company might sell shares at a price of $10 and documents worth 50 cents that allow the holder to buy a proportional amount of shares at $15 per share on a specified future date. Investors who believe the stock will rise in price will buy these documents to try to profit from future stock price increases.
One strategy companies use is to link documents to other securities being sold, such as stocks or bonds. This can make the securities more attractive to investors, helping the company raise additional capital.
Document vs. Option
Documents and options function very similarly, but it is important to understand the differences between them.
Document:
- Gives the holder the right to buy or sell a share at a specified price.
- Provided directly by the referencing company and also issues new shares by the referencing company.
- Purchased and sold by investors.
- Often bundled with other securities.
- Typically has a validity period of several years.
Option:
- Gives the holder the right to buy or sell a share at a specified price.
- Purchased and sold by investors.
- Independent of other securities.
- Typically has a validity period of several months.
What does this mean for individual investors?
Owning a security that comes with a document can be beneficial because it grants shareholders additional rights, such as the ability to purchase more shares in the company at a specified price. The more rights you get from a security, the more valuable that security generally becomes.
Securities trading XW come without documents, so you should be able to purchase them for less than the price of the security with an attached document.
Buying a stock without a document can be beneficial, depending on how the attached document is valued. Using XW to indicate securities without a document makes it easier for you, as an investor, to fully understand what the security you intend to purchase involves.
Key Takeaways
- Documents give the holder the right to buy or sell shares in the future, just like options.
- Companies often bundle documents with other securities like stocks.
- XW indicates that the security is sold without the document that was originally attached to it.
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-does-xw-mean-in-investing-5323414
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