How to Change the Ticker Symbol for Your Own Stock

You can learn how to change the ticker symbol of your own company.

When it comes to owning a publicly traded company, many people start to know your business based on your stock ticker symbol. It's like the short-hand version of your company name. However, sometimes changing that ticker name can be beneficial as it might better identify your current brand. Reasons you'd want to change your ticker symbol include a merger, a product acquisition and coming out of a bankruptcy filing.

Instructions

1. Identify which exchange you trades your company's stock. The ticker symbol is assigned by this exchange. Examples of exchanges include the Nasdaq, the Dow Jones or the Toronto stock exchanges.

2. Request the paperwork to change your ticker symbol. Each exchange will have a different set of paperwork associated with changing the ticker symbol. The exchange will ask you to disclose certain facts about your company such as its history and the reason for the ticker modification.

3. Create a new ticker symbol. On the change form, the exchange will ask for several different ticker symbol options that you'd like to have. Think of ticker symbols that represent your company name, brand or product.

4. Pay the associated fee. Most of the stock exchanges charge money to change the ticker symbol. For instance the Nasdaq charges $2,500. Pay the fee and submit your paperwork.

5. Receive approval of the ticker symbol change. The governing body of each exchange will either approve or deny the request. Upon approval you will be issued a new ticker symbol and a date that the new ticker symbol will begin trading on the respective stock exchange.

References

• Securities and Exchange Commission
• Investopedia