Wall Street analyst
Related: Sell-side analyst

Wallflower
Stock that has fallen out of favor with investors; tends to have a low P/E .

Wanted for cash
A statement displayed on market tickers indicating that a bidder will pay cash for same day settlement of a block of a specified security .

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. This "warrant" is then traded as a security, the price of which reflects the value of the underlying stock. Warrants are usually issued as a "sweetener" bundled with another class of security to enhance the marketability of the latter. Warrants are like call options, but with much longer time spans -- sometimes years.

Wasting asset
An asset which has a limited life and thus, decreases in value (depreciates) over time. Also applied to consumed assets, such as gas, and termed "depletion."

Watch list
A list of securities selected for special surveillance by a brokerage, exchange or regulatory organization; firms on the list are often takeover targets, companies planning to issue new securities or stocks showing unusual activity.

Weak form efficiency
A form of pricing efficiency where the price of the security reflects the past price and trading history of the security. Related: Semistrong form efficiency , strong form efficiency

Weighted-average portfolio yield
The weighted average of the yield of all the bonds in a portfolio .

Whole life insurance
A contract with both insurance and investment components: (1) It pays off a stated amount upon the death of the insured, and (2) it accumulates a cash value that the policyholder can redeem or borrow against.

Wild card option
The right of the seller of a Treasury Bond futures contract to give notice of intent to deliver at or before 8:00 p.m. Chicago time after the closing of the exchange (3. 15 p.m. Chicago time) when the futures settlement price has been fixed. Related: Timing option

Window contract
A guaranteed investment contract purchased with deposits over some future designated time period (the "window"), usually between 3 and 12 months. All deposits made are guaranteed the same credit rating. Related: bullet contract

Wire house
A firm operating a private wire to its own branch offices or to other firms, commission houses or brokerage houses.

Withdrawal plan
The ability to establish automatic periodic mutual fund redemptions and have proceeds mailed directly to the investor .

Writer
The seller of an option .

W-type bottom
A double bottom where the price or indicator chart has the appearance of a W.
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