Trading Terms Glossary

A Periodic Transaction Report (PTR) is a financial disclosure form that members of Congress must file when they or their spouses conduct stock transactions above certain thresholds.

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012 requires members of Congress to disclose their stock trades within 45 days and prohibits insider trading based on non-public information.

The 45-day requirement for members of Congress to report stock transactions through PTR filings after the trade execution date.

The official office responsible for maintaining congressional financial disclosure records and PTR filings.

Congressional committee responsible for enforcing ethics rules and investigating potential violations.

Elected representative in the House or Senate subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Requirement for Congress members to report trades made by their spouses and dependent children.

Congressional committee membership that may provide access to industry-specific information and legislative oversight.

A unique series of letters assigned to a publicly traded company's stock for identification on stock exchanges.

Classification of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, options, or other securities.

The actual date when a stock trade was executed, as opposed to the disclosure date when it was reported.

Financial contracts that give the holder the right to buy or sell shares at a specified price within a certain time period.

Acquiring ownership of securities by exchanging money for shares or other financial instruments.

Disposing of securities ownership by exchanging shares for money.

The value brackets used in congressional disclosure forms to report trade sizes instead of exact amounts.

An order to buy or sell a security immediately at the current market price.

An order to buy or sell a security at a specific price or better.

A payment made by corporations to shareholders as a distribution of profits.