Warrant (redirected from warrantability)

Warrant

A security entitling the holder to buy a proportionate amount of stock at some specified future date at a specified price, usually one higher than current market price. Warrants are traded as securities whose price reflects the value of the underlying stock. Corporations often bundle warrants with another class of security to enhance the marketability of the other class. Warrants are like call options, but with much longer time spans-sometimes years. And, warrants are offered by corporations, while exchange-traded call options are not issued by firms.

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warrant

A security that permits its owner to purchase a specific number of shares of stock at a predetermined price. For example, a warrant may give an investor the right to purchase 5 shares of XYZ common stock at a price of $25 per share until October 1, 2007. Warrants usually originate as part of a new bond issue, but they trade separately after issuance. Warrants usually have limited lives. Their values are considerably more volatile than the values of the underlying stock. Thus, investment in warrants is not for the timid. Also called equity warrant, stock warrant, subscription warrant. See also debt warrant, perpetual warrant, usable bond.

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Warrant. Corporations may issue warrants that allow you to buy a company's stock at a fixed price during a specific period of time, often 10 or 15 years, though sometimes there is no expiration date.

Warrants are generally issued as an incentive to investors to accept bonds or preferred stocks that will be paying a lower rate of interest or dividends than would otherwise be paid.

How attractive the warrants are -- and so how effective they are as an incentive to purchase -- generally depends on the growth potential of the issuing company. The brighter the outlook, the more attractive the warrant becomes.

When a warrant is issued, the exercise price is above the current market price. For example, a warrant on a stock currently trading at $15 a share might guarantee you the right to buy the stock at $30 a share within the next 10 years. If the price goes above $30, you can exercise, or use, your warrant to purchase the stock, and either hold it in your portfolio or resell at a profit. If the price of the stock falls over the life of the warrant, however, the warrant becomes worthless.

Warrants are listed with a "wt" following the stock symbol and traded independently of the underlying stock. If you own warrants to purchase a stock at $30 a share that is currently trading for $40 a share, your warrants are theoretically be worth a minimum of $10 a share, or their intrinsic value.

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Warrant

A certificate authorizing the holder to buy a corporation's stock at a specified price, either indefinitely or within a certain time. Warrants are different from rights in that they generally last longer, and the price at which the holder is entitled to buy the stock usually is more than the stock's market price when the warrant was issued.