How to Read Stock Market Tables

1. Year-to-date percentage change. The stock price percentage change for the calendar year to date. In Hasbro's case, the change was -1.9%, meaning the stock is 1.9% lower than it was on January 1.

2. 52-week hi and lo. The highest and lowest prices that a stock traded at over the previous 52 weeks (a full one-year period). Some papers also report the previous day's highest and lowest stock prices. Hasbro's 52-week high was $18.44, its low $11.60.

3 & 4. Stock (sym). The abbreviated version of the stock's name and exchange ticker symbol. Hasbro's symbol: HAS.

5. Dividends. The annual dividend per share. If this column is blank, the company does not pay dividends. Hasbro's dividend was .12, meaning it paid a 12 cent dividend per share.

6. Dividend yield. Annual dividend per share divided by stock price per share. Dividend yield explains what percentage of the purchase price will be returned to you. In Hasbro's case, .8% of the share price was returned as a dividend. If this column is blank, the company does not pay dividends.

7. Price-to-Earnings ratio. The current stock price divided by earnings per share (if available) from the last four quarters. Hasbro's P/E ratio was 42, meaning the stock share price was 42 times its earnings per share. A company similar to Hasbro with a higher P/E might be considered more overpriced; with a lower P/E, it might be considered a better value.

8. Trading volume. Total shares traded for the day, in hundreds. To get the actual number traded, add "00" to the end of the number listed. Hasbro's daily volume was 8823, or 882,300 shares.

9. Close (or last). This is the stock's last trading price at close of business on the previous day. Hasbro closed at $15.92 for the day.

10. Net change. This is the dollar value change of the stock price from the previous day's closing price. If a stock is "up for the day," the net change was positive. Hasbro was "down for the day," closing $0.42 lower than the day before.