Ask Mint | Free float: indicator of a stock’s liquidity, helps decide its price
Ask Mint | Free float: indicator of a stock’s liquidity, helps decide its price
In our day-to-day analysis of different factors affecting the market, we often forget that “free float" also plays a crucial role in deciding the price of a stock.
Johnny: OK! “Free float" plays an important role. But can you first explain, Jinny, what exactly a free float is?
Jinny: Free float is that portion of the outstanding shares of a listed company that is actually available for day-to-day trading by investors. Normally, all outstanding shares are not available for trading. For example, a listed company may have 10 million outstanding shares, of which only six million may actually be available for trading.
The shares which are not available for day-to-day trading are called “restricted shares". The decision for not trading the restricted shares by promoters or strategic investors may be voluntary sometimes, but many times, restricted shares are actually forbidden from trading due to a “lock-in period" imposed by some legal requirement.
Also Read Shailaja and Manoj K Singh’s earlier columns
Johnny: So it all boils down to how much free float a company has. Is there any method by which we can estimate the free float of a company?
Jinny: Many websites provide market information about listed companies which also contains their shareholding pattern and free float. You can yourself estimate the free float of any listed company, but for that you need to pay closer attention to its annual report, which discloses the shareholding pattern of promoters, strategic investors and others.
For an up-to-date estimate, you can also check the quarterly shareholding pattern submitted by listed companies to stock exchanges. It would be better if you keep a watch on public announcements made by companies from time to time, regarding investments or disinvestments by promoters or strategic shareholders.
Once you know how many shares are lying with long-term investors, you can subtract that from the total outstanding shares of a company to arrive at its free float. Collecting all this information no doubt requires effort, but the major challenge lies in identifying long-term investors.
Other than promoters and self-declared strategic investors, how would you know a particular investor is maintaining his holding due to some long-term business strategy and not for trading? To arrive at a reasonable conclusion, use a few rules.
Shareholding of government or state agencies in any company is considered to be of long term. Likewise, shareholding acquired through private placement or any acquisition requiring disclosure and open offer under the takeover code could be considered to be long term.
Investment made under the foreign direct investment, or FDI, category and equity held by associate or group companies can also be considered to be long term.
Johnny: So, estimating free float really requires more effort than doing two plus two. But tell me, Jinny, why is free float considered that important?
Jinny: It is important to know about the free float of a listed company because it’s an indicator of a stock’s liquidity. A more liquid stock can be traded at a lower cost and in less time. A lower free float is a sign of low liquidity, which affects both buyers and sellers.
The more the number of shares available for trading, the more buyers and sellers are able to take part in the market. A small free float means that a lower number of shares is actually available for trading, which makes it much more difficult to match buyers and sellers at their chosen price and time.
For this reason, many investors avoid illiquid stocks. Sometimes buyers are not able to find enough sellers, and sometimes sellers are not able to find enough buyers. Such a situation may lead to price volatility.
Scarcity of shares may, in fact, artificially push up the prices. A small free float means that even a small rise in demand may push up the prices.
It would take much less pull to affect the price of a few thousands shares than it would take to affect millions. A dangerous situation for both buyers and sellers because once the demand ceases, the prices fall back with equal rapidity. So those interested in buying a stock having a small free float must keep this aspect in mind.
Johnny: Thanks for your words of caution, Jinny. Shallow waters may hold nasty surprises.
What:The “free float" of a listed company denotes shares that are actually available for day-to-day trading.
How: Free float can be estimated by analysing the shareholding pattern, as published in the annual report or quarterly information submitted to stock exchanges and announcements made from time to time.
Why: Free float has an impact on prices because it affects stock liquidity.
Shailaja and Manoj K. Singh have important day jobs with an important bank. But Jinny and Johnny have plenty of time for your suggestions and ideas for their weekly chat. You can write to both of them at realsimple@livemint.com
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!