52-week high / low.

In plain English

The 52-week high and low mark the top and bottom prices a security reached during the past year of trading. They give a fast sense of where a stock sits within its recent range: near the high after a strong run, near the low after a slide. Investors and screeners watch them because a new 52-week high can signal momentum, and a new low can signal trouble or a possible bargain. On their own they say nothing about value, though, since a stock can be cheap at a new high or expensive at a new low; they are context, not a verdict.

01Why it matters

The 52-week range is a quick snapshot of where a stock sits, but it says nothing about whether the price is fair, so understanding it keeps you from mistaking a high or low for a signal.

02The math, step by step

A stock trades at 45 dollars with a 52-week range of 30 to 50 dollars, so it sits near the top of its yearly range. That shows recent strength but does not, by itself, tell you whether 45 dollars is cheap or expensive.

03What this is NOT

04Receipts

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