Understanding a stock's "float" is a crucial part of assessing its potential volatility and liquidity, especially for active traders. A low float stock, for instance, can experience much larger price swings on relatively low volume, making it attractive for certain trading strategies but also inherently riskier. On the other hand, a high float stock tends to be more stable.
If you're using Webull as your trading platform, you're in luck! Webull provides a wealth of data to help you with your stock analysis. Let's dive into how you can find the float of a stock on Webull, step-by-step.
What Exactly is "Float"?
Before we begin, let's briefly clarify what "float" means in the context of stock trading.
The float of a stock refers to the number of shares that are publicly available for trading on the open market. It's a subset of a company's total "outstanding shares." The key distinction is that the float excludes shares that are restricted, held by insiders (like company executives and employees), or owned by major long-term institutional investors who aren't actively trading those shares.
Think of it this way: if a company has 10 million shares outstanding, but 3 million are held by founders and employees under lock-up agreements, and another 1 million are held by a pension fund that rarely trades, then the float would be 6 million shares (10 million - 3 million - 1 million = 6 million). This number is vital because it directly impacts the supply and demand dynamics of a stock.
Finding the Float of a Stock on Webull: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to uncover the float of your favorite stocks on Webull? Let's get started!
Step 1: Engage with the Webull Platform
Hey there! Are you ready to level up your stock analysis game on Webull? Whether you're on the mobile app or the desktop version, the first thing you need to do is log in to your Webull account.
For the Webull Mobile App: Locate the Webull icon on your smartphone and tap to open it. Enter your PIN or use your biometric authentication (Face ID/fingerprint) to gain access.
For the Webull Desktop Platform: Open the Webull desktop application on your computer or navigate to the Webull website (webull.com) and click on "Login" in the top right corner. Enter your registered email/phone number and password.
Once you're successfully logged in, you'll be greeted by your personalized Webull dashboard, showing your portfolio, watchlists, and market overview.
Step 2: Navigate to the Stock's Detail Page
Now that you're in, you need to find the specific stock you want to research.
Using the Search Bar: This is the easiest and fastest way. At the top of your Webull screen (both mobile and desktop), you'll see a search bar (often indicated by a magnifying glass icon).
Click or tap on the search bar.
Type in the ticker symbol (e.g., TSLA for Tesla, AAPL for Apple) or the full company name of the stock you're interested in.
Select the correct stock from the search results.
This action will take you directly to the stock's detailed quote page. This page is a treasure trove of information, displaying real-time prices, charting tools, news, and various financial metrics.
Step 3: Locating Key Financial Information (The Fundamentals Tab)
Once you're on the stock's detail page, you'll see a series of tabs or sections. Webull organizes information logically, so you'll want to look for the "Fundamentals" or a similar tab.
On the Webull Mobile App: Scroll down on the stock's main page. You'll often see sections like "Overview," "Charts," "News," "Analysis," and typically a "Fundamentals" tab or section among them. Tap on "Fundamentals".
On the Webull Desktop Platform: Look for a row of tabs below the stock chart and basic price information. You'll likely see "Analysis," "Financials," "News," "Press," etc. Click on the tab that sounds most relevant to detailed company information, which is usually "Analysis" or "Financials". Sometimes, it might even be under "Profile" or "Company Info."
Sub-heading: Digging into the Data Points
Within the "Fundamentals" or "Analysis" section, you'll find a vast array of metrics about the company. This is where the "float" information is typically housed. You'll need to scroll down a bit, as there's a lot of data presented.
Look for a section related to "Share Statistics," "Shares Outstanding," or "Market Capitalization." You're specifically looking for:
Float (sometimes labeled "Free Float" or "Shares Float")
Shares Outstanding
Market Capitalization
Webull aims to provide comprehensive data, so the "Float" figure should be clearly displayed. It's usually presented as a numerical value, representing the number of shares.
Important Note: The exact placement and labeling might vary slightly depending on the Webull app version or if they've recently updated their interface. If you don't find "Float" immediately under "Fundamentals," explore other related sections like "Profile," "Key Stats," or "Company Info." Webull also has an excellent "Stock Screener" tool where you can often filter for stocks based on criteria like float, which can be helpful for discovering low-float opportunities.
Step 4: Interpreting the Float and Its Significance
Once you've found the float number, it's time to understand what it means for your trading decisions.
Low Float Stocks (e.g., typically under 20-30 million shares):
Higher Volatility: With fewer shares available, any significant buying or selling pressure can cause large and rapid price movements. This is often sought after by day traders and momentum traders.
Potential for Short Squeezes: If a low float stock has high short interest, a sudden surge in buying can force short sellers to cover their positions, leading to a "short squeeze" and explosive price increases.
Less Liquidity: It might be harder to buy or sell large quantities of shares without impacting the price significantly.
High Float Stocks (e.g., hundreds of millions or billions of shares):
Lower Volatility: The large number of shares available tends to absorb buying and selling pressure more easily, resulting in more stable price movements.
Higher Liquidity: Easier to enter and exit positions without significantly affecting the market price.
More Suitable for Long-Term Investing: Generally, less prone to dramatic short-term fluctuations.
Keep in mind: Float is just one metric. Always consider it in conjunction with other fundamental and technical analysis points, such as volume, short interest, company news, and overall market conditions.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related "How to" FAQ questions with quick answers:
How to calculate float if it's not directly shown?
You can estimate the float by subtracting restricted shares and shares held by insiders/major long-term institutions from the total outstanding shares. However, this data might not always be readily available or perfectly accurate outside of official company filings.
How to use float in my trading strategy?
Low float stocks are often targeted by day traders for their potential volatility. Combined with high volume and short interest, they can signal opportunities for rapid gains (or losses). High float stocks are generally more suitable for swing trading or long-term investing due to their stability.
How to find short interest on Webull?
On a stock's detail page, look for the "Analysis" or "Fundamentals" section. You'll often find "Short Interest" or "Short Ratio" listed there, sometimes under "Institution Positions" or "Share Statistics."
How to identify a low float stock on Webull's screener?
Webull's stock screener (accessible from the "Market" tab or a dedicated "Screener" button) allows you to filter stocks by various criteria, including "Float." You can set a maximum float value to find low-float opportunities.
How to compare a stock's float with its industry peers on Webull?
While Webull directly shows the float for a specific stock, comparing it to industry peers requires you to look up each peer's float individually. You can use the "Related Stocks" or "Industry" section on a stock's detail page to find comparable companies.
How to understand the relationship between float and liquidity?
A higher float generally indicates higher liquidity, meaning there are more shares available for buying and selling, making it easier to execute large orders without significantly moving the price. A lower float suggests lower liquidity, where even small orders can have a larger price impact.
How to find outstanding shares on Webull?
Outstanding shares are usually listed alongside "Float" in the "Fundamentals," "Analysis," or "Key Stats" section of a stock's detail page on Webull.
How to interpret a sudden change in a stock's float?
A sudden, significant change in a stock's float (e.g., due to a stock split, reverse split, or new share issuance/buyback) can impact its volatility and liquidity. This would typically be accompanied by company news or SEC filings.
How to set up alerts for float changes on Webull?
Webull generally allows you to set price and volume alerts. While direct alerts for float changes are not common, you can set alerts for volume spikes, which often accompany significant interest in low-float stocks.
How to learn more about stock market terminology on Webull?
Webull offers educational resources within its platform, often under a "Learn" or "Education" section. You can also find explanations for various trading terms and concepts there.