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

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

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

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