[W]
Wallflower – a stock that has fallen out of favor with investors; tends to have a low P/E.
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. See also Rights Offering.
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.
Working Capital – current assets minus current liabilities. This figure is an indication of the company’s ability to meet its short-term debts. Working capital is sometimes calculated excluding cash and short-term debt. The result, usually called “operating working capital”, gives a more meaningful measure of the working capital the firm needs to conduct its operations. The calculation is (currents less cash and equivalents) minus (current assets less short-term debt). Normally the working capital is a positive number, however, many successful Internet companies have been able to achieve a negative level of working capital.
Writer – the seller of an option contract.
W-type Bottom in technical analysis: a double bottom where the price or indicator chart has the appearance of a W.