Listed Security

A listed security is a financial instrument that is traded through an exchange, such as the NYSE or Nasdaq. When a private company decides to go public and issue shares, it will need to choose an exchange on which to be listed. To do so, it must be able meet that exchange's listing requirements and pay both the exchange's entry and yearly listing fees. Listing requirements vary by exchange and include minimum stockholder's equity, a minimum share price and a minimum number of shareholders. Exchanges have listing requirements to ensure that only high quality securities are traded on them and to uphold the exchange's reputation among investors.

Becoming a listed company on the Nasdaq is considerably less expensive than listing on the NYSE, so newer companies often opt for the Nasdaq if they meet its requirements. The exchange a company chooses to be listed on can affect how investors perceive the stock. Some companies choose to cross-list their securities on more than one exchange.

If a stock fails to comply with the exchange's listing requirements, it will be delisted. Delisted securities that can no longer be traded on an exchange will sometimes be traded over the counter. The over-the-counter market does not have listing requirements.

Each company that lists on the NASDAW must put up a minimum of 1,250,000 publicly traded shares for sale to the public, excluding those shares held by officers, directors or any beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of the company. In addition, the regular bid price at time of listing must be $4.00, and there must be at least three market makers for the stock.

However, a company may qualify under a closing price alternative of $3.00 or $2.00 if the company meets other certain metrics. In addition, each listing firm must also follow Nasdaq corporate governance rules 4350, 4351 and 4360. Companies must also have at least 450 round lot (100 shares) shareholders, 2,200 total shareholders, or 550 total shareholders with 1.1 million average trading volume over the past 12 months.

To get listed on NYSE, a corporation needs at least 400 round-lot holders, or stockholders, with 100 shares apiece. The company must also have at least 1.1 million outstanding shares worth $40 million or more, and a price-per-share can be no lower than $4. If a new listing is an IPO, the NYSE requires a guarantee from the IPO underwriter that the IPO will meet the board's standards. 

The earnings test for a new NYSE listing requires a minimum $10 million total earnings for the previous three years. Valuation with cash flow requires capitalization -- the value of the outstanding stock -- of $500 million and an aggregate $25 million cash flow for the past three years. Pure valuation requires a $750 capitalization and revenue of $75 million in the most recent fiscal year. An affiliate of an established NYSE listing only needs $500 million in capitalization and a year in existence as a company.