Key Ratio What is 'Key Ratio' A mathematical ratio that illustrates and summarizes the current financial condition of a company. Key ratios can be used to easily obtain an idea of a compan

Heating Degree Day (HDD) What is 'Heating Degree Day - HDD' The number of degrees that a day's average temperature is below 65oFahrenheit (18o Celsius), the temperature below which buildin

Kicking The Tires What is 'Kicking The Tires' A slang term for researching an investment before putting any money into it. The process of kicking the tires for a stock might include readin

DefinitionIn the United States, a health maintenance organization is a medical insurance group that provides health services for a fixed annual fee. It is an organization that provides or ar

Harmonized Index Of Consumer Prices (HICP) What is 'Harmonized Index Of Consumer Prices - HICP' A list of the final costs paid by European consumers for the items in a basket of common goo

DefinitionHeadline inflation is a measure of the total inflation within an economy, including commodities such as food and energy prices, which tend to be much more volatile and prone to inf

Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act Of 1976 What is 'Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act Of 1976' A U.S. law enacted by President Ford that requires large companies to fi

Yield To Average Life What is 'Yield To Average Life' The yield on a fixed-income security when the average maturity is substituted for the maturity date of the issue. It is particularly u

Yield Pickup What is 'Yield Pickup' The additional interest rate an investor receives when selling a lower-yielding bond in exchange for a higher-yielding bond. The bond with the lower yie

Years Certain Annuity What is 'Years Certain Annuity' An insurance product that pays the holder a monthly income for a specified number of years. A years certain annuity is similar to othe