The CA symbol and the 10 stock suffixes that investors need to know

When entering a stock trading app, investors will notice various symbols appearing behind stock names, such as CA, XM, XD, XN, etc. The CA symbol actually has an important meaning that should be understood before making buy or sell decisions, because these symbols indicate that a significant event is about to happen.

What is the CA symbol: a notification of stock movement

CA stands for Corporate Action, which indicates that “the stock is about to undergo a significant change within 7 days.” This change could be dividend payments, shareholder meetings, or other rights the company grants to shareholders.

When you see the CA symbol after a stock name, you can click to view details. It will show information such as “What event is about to happen” and “When it will happen.” Additionally, the stock exchange displays abbreviations on stocks to help investors understand clearly. These abbreviations can be divided into 3 main groups:

X Group - “Exclusion of Rights” Symbols to Watch Out For

Symbols ending with X inform investors that “if you buy the stock today, you will not receive certain rights.” The X comes from “Excluding,” meaning “not included” or “not entitled to.”

XD (Excluding Dividend) – Not entitled to dividends

This is the most common abbreviation. If you buy a stock when the XD mark appears, you will miss out on the dividend payout for this round. However, if you hold the stock until the next XD, you will receive the dividend then.

Frequently asked questions about XD:

• Can I buy a few seconds late and still get the dividend? Yes. If you buy the stock before the XD date, you will still receive the dividend at the normal rate. The company pays dividends to all shareholders equally, whether old or new.

XM (Excluding Meetings) – Not entitled to attend shareholder meetings

Buying stock when XM appears means you lose the right to attend the shareholder meeting, where important company decisions are made.

XW (Excluding Warrant) – Not entitled to purchase warrants

A warrant is a special type of stock (a derivative) issued by the company that can be converted into common stock at a set rate. If you buy stock when XW appears, you will not have the right to subscribe for the warrant.

XS (Excluding Short-term Warrant) – Not entitled to short-term warrants

Similar to XW, but these warrants have a shorter duration.

XR (Excluding Rights) – Not entitled to subscribe for new shares

Buying stock when XR appears means you miss the right to subscribe for new capital increase shares, which companies issue to raise funds for expansion.

XT (Excluding Transferable Subscription Right) – Not entitled to transferable rights

This indicates the right to purchase additional shares can be transferred to others.

XI (Excluding Interest) – Not entitled to interest

If the stock pays interest, you will not receive it during this period.

XP (Excluding Principal) – Not entitled to principal repayment

When the company announces a principal repayment, you will not receive this amount.

XA (Excluding All) – Not entitled to any rights

XA indicates you will not receive any rights announced by the company in this period. You can see more details by clicking into it.

XE (Excluding Exercise) – Not exercising the rights to convert securities

If you hold securities that give you the right to convert into stock, you will not be able to convert today.

XN (Excluding Capital Return) – Not receiving capital reduction refund

Capital reduction is a process where the company reduces its capital to adjust its financial position, often used by companies with long-term accumulated losses. If you buy stock when XN appears, you will not receive the refund from this capital reduction.

XB (Excluding Other Benefits) – Not entitled to other benefits

XB is used for other securities, such as preferred shares, common shares allocated from public offerings, or securities from affiliated companies.

T Group - “Warning! Heavy speculation”

Symbols ending with T appear when a stock’s price rises rapidly with high speculation. The stock exchange implements measures to limit excessive trading, with levels as follows:

T1 (Trading Alert Level 1) – First warning level

This stock must be traded only through a Cash Balance account (actual cash). Borrowed funds or collateralized securities are not allowed. This level lasts about 3 weeks.

T2 (Trading Alert Level 2) – Second warning level

If after 1 month the stock still meets the criteria, it is upgraded to T2. Besides trading with Cash Balance, you cannot use this stock as collateral.

T3 (Trading Alert Level 3) – Highest warning level

If the stock remains at T2 beyond this, it is upgraded to T3, the most restrictive level. You must trade only with Cash Balance, cannot use it as collateral, and most importantly, settlement is prohibited.

Prohibition of settlement means that if you buy stock with 10,000 THB and sell it, normally the buying power is restored the same day. But for T3 stocks, the buying power is restored the next day, preventing multiple trades within the same day.

Note on Cash Balance accounts: This account type is suitable for beginner investors because you can only spend up to the amount in your account, helping control investment limits and reducing risks from borrowing or margin calls.

Risk Warning Symbols: Be cautious in investing

A group of symbols used to warn investors and encourage careful consideration before investing:

H (Trading Halt) – Temporary trading suspension for 1 session

The stock will be halted for just one trading session (one day has 2 sessions: morning and afternoon). The halt may be due to news released but not yet officially announced to the stock exchange.

SP (Trading Suspension) – Multiple sessions

Unlike H, SP can last more than one session. Causes are similar: news release, delayed financial reports, or other issues.

NP (Notice Pending) – Awaiting company notification

The company has important information to report but has not yet submitted it. Once the report is filed, the symbol changes to NR.

NR (Notice Received) – Notification received

Indicates the stock exchange has received and acknowledged the company’s report.

NC (Non-Compliance) – Non-compliance with listing requirements

Stocks are marked NC when the company faces potential delisting, such as prolonged losses or failure to submit financial statements. The company has 1 year to resolve these issues.

ST (Stabilization) – Price stabilization

Stocks with ST are under efforts to stabilize their prices, often through “Greenshoe” options, where the IPO shares issued exceed the initial amount to support the price and prevent it from falling below the IPO price in the first 30 days.

C (Caution) – Warning to investors

When a stock shows C, it indicates the company has financial or operational problems and carries high risk. To be marked C, the company must meet criteria such as:

Financial issues:

• Shareholders’ equity less than 50% of paid-up capital
• Court orders for rehabilitation or bankruptcy
• Regulatory orders to improve financial health or temporarily halt expansion

Financial statement issues:

• Auditors unable to express an opinion due to scope limitations
• SEC orders for correction or special audits

Operational issues:

• Being a Cash Company (selling nearly all assets needed for operations, leaving only cash and short-term securities)

Why is understanding CA and the abbreviations important?

Understanding the CA symbol and other stock suffixes is crucial because:

1. CA indicates shareholder rights – whether dividends, voting rights, or new stock rights. Knowing if you will receive these rights helps you make informed investment decisions.

2. T symbols alert you to risk – stocks with T are often highly speculative with rapid price increases. Recognizing this helps you protect yourself.

3. Warning symbols (H, SP, NC, C) signal danger – not understanding these could lead to investing in companies with serious issues unknowingly.

The CA symbol is just the beginning; clicking on it reveals more details, often shown as abbreviations. Grasping these abbreviations is a fundamental skill for investors to confidently navigate the stock market and understand potential impacts.