Quoted Companies

A quoted company is one whose shares can be bought and sold on a recognised stock market. The term comes from the price quote that appears whenever its shares are traded. This quote represents the market’s current valuation of the company’s shares and is usually shown as two prices: the bid, which is the highest price a buyer is willing to pay, and the ask, which is the lowest price a seller is willing to accept. The difference between them is known as the spread.

Although the words quoted and listed are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction. Companies that are listed appear on the Financial Conduct Authority’s Official List, which includes firms on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market such as those in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices. Many smaller growth companies, however, trade on other markets like AIM or the Aquis Growth Market. These companies are not officially listed but are still quoted, because their shares are publicly traded and carry a market price.

Being quoted brings a range of obligations, including rules on reporting, disclosure and governance, as well as responsibilities to maintain orderly trading and protect shareholders. It also gives companies access to public capital, which can support growth and broaden ownership. Quoted companies make up a large part of the UK’s capital markets, covering a wide variety of sectors, business models and stages of development.

Further reading

• Quoted Companies Alliance — Economic Contribution of Small and Mid-Sized Quoted Companies

• House of Commons Library — Corporate Governance Reform

• House of Lords Library — Encouraging retail investment in the stock market