what does c mean in stock price?

What does "C" mean in a stock price?

Short overview

When you ask what does C mean in stock price, the answer depends on context: the single letter "C" can signal several different things in market quotes and trade reports. Most commonly it’s a market-data flag indicating a closing or previous close price, a Close column label, a company ticker (for example Citigroup’s symbol), a share-class marker (Class C), an exchange/tape identifier (Tape C), or a trade-condition code. The exact meaning depends on the exchange, data feed, or trading platform you are using.

This article explains the typical uses of "C", shows how to tell which meaning applies, gives short examples you can recognize quickly, and offers best-practice recommendations for confirming definitions on your broker or data provider. By the end you will know how to interpret "C" on quote screens and where to look when you need platform-specific clarification.

Common meanings (by context)

When reviewing U.S. stock or crypto-related market data, these are the typical interpretations you are most likely to encounter for the label or flag "C":

• A market-data flag indicating a closing / previous close price.
• The Close column label (daily close price) on quote boards.
• A ticker symbol (for example, the single-letter symbol C for a listed issuer).
• A share-class designation (Class C shares for mutual funds or corporations).
• An exchange/tape identifier (Tape C used in consolidated tape reporting).
• A trade-condition or execution code that uses the single letter C in some venues.

Throughout this guide we use plain language and examples so you can quickly match what you see on your screen to the correct interpretation.

"C" as a market-data flag for the closing / previous close price

One of the most common meanings when you see a solitary "C" next to a price is that the data point is a closing or previous trading day’s close. Some trading platforms and market-data displays prepend or append a "C" to the price to indicate that the value shown is the prior session’s closing print rather than a live or recent trade.

For example, certain broker platforms document that a "C" shown in front of or beside the last price denotes the previous day’s close. If you see: "C 120.50" in a Last or Price column, the platform is signaling that 120.50 is the official closing price from the last trading session. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is one broker that explicitly notes this behavior in its field legends and documentation: a "C" can indicate a previous day close or a closing trade print depending on the column context.

Why platforms do this: many quote displays try to make it clear whether a price is a live last trade, a delayed quote, or simply the prior close. Adding a small label like "C" reduces confusion for users who compare intraday movement to the previous close. Always check your platform’s column legend or hover tooltips to confirm exactly how that vendor uses the flag.

Key reminder: a market-data flag "C" is about the nature of the price (it is a close), not about the security itself.

"C" as the Close column label (daily close)

Many quote boards and financial charts include a column titled Close or abbreviated to "C". This Close field simply reports the last official closing price for the trading day. While similar to the previous section, the distinction is practical: the Close column is a named field that consistently contains the daily close, whereas a market-data flag may appear next to a price in a general Last or Price column to indicate that the displayed last print actually equals the closing price.

Important difference between "last trade" and "close":

• Last trade / Last price: the price of the most recent execution. During market hours this will change frequently; after hours it may reflect the most recent trade in extended sessions.
• Close: the official closing price for the regular session (usually the consolidated close at 16:00 ET for U.S. equities). The Close field is commonly labeled "C" on quote tables and must not be conflated with an intraday Last price.

If you are comparing performance, make sure you use the Close value for consistent day-over-day returns rather than an intraday Last price which may be volatile.

"C" as a ticker / symbol

The letter "C" can also be the actual ticker symbol for an issuer. In that case the single character is the company identifier, not a price flag. A classic example in U.S. markets is a company that trades under the symbol C on the exchange. When "C" appears as the symbol or in the symbol column, it is the stock’s name code.

How to recognize this meaning:

• "C" appears in the Symbol or Ticker column rather than next to a numeric price.
• The row will display other security identifiers (company name, market cap, exchange) that make clear it is the ticker.

If "C" is the ticker, the price beside it is simply the quoted market price for that security; the letter itself does not carry any metadata about whether the price is a close or a live trade.

"C" indicating a share class (Class C shares)

Another common usage is a share-class designation. Many corporations and funds issue multiple share classes labeled A, B, C, etc. "Class C" shares (often shortened to "C shares") have specific voting rights and fee structures depending on the issuer. For mutual funds, Class C shares typically have different ongoing fees—historically, Class C mutual-fund shares charge ongoing 12b-1 fees and are considered level-load shares without front-end sales loads but with higher running costs compared with some other classes.

What to watch for:

• If you see "Class C" or "C share" on a fund or ETF page, this refers to the share class and its fee/voting attributes, not the price flag.
• Fund documentation (prospectus) will list the fee structure and whether a class carries 12b-1 fees or other charges.

References such as Investopedia and financial education sites have long explained the mechanics and fee patterns of Class C shares for mutual funds. When evaluating a fund, always read the prospectus or fund factsheet for exact fee and load information.

"C" as an exchange/tape identifier (Tape C)

Market data in the U.S. uses a consolidated tape system that groups reporting by tape: Tape A, Tape B, and Tape C. Each tape corresponds broadly to listing venues and reporting feeds. Tape C commonly covers NASDAQ-listed securities in the consolidated tape architecture.

When you see a "Tape C" indicator or a letter C in a metadata field, it likely identifies the reporting tape or feed rather than a price type. That means the quote or trade print was reported on the Tape C feed and may reflect the listing venue or reporting conduit.

Why this matters: different tapes have different reporting rules and participants. If a market data vendor shows "C" as the tape identifier, use that to trace the reporting feed and understand whether the quote originates from a particular listing or reporting source.

"C" in trade/condition/execution codes

Exchanges and consolidated reporting systems use single-letter condition codes that annotate trade prints with execution conditions or trade types. The same letter can mean different things across venues and feeds. For example, one venue might use the letter C to denote a cash trade, a closing print, or some other specific condition. Another feed could use C for a late print or correction.

Because of this variability, you should consult the exchange or broker's condition-code legend whenever you see condition letters like C in execution or trade-condition fields. Relying on a universal interpretation is risky; the exact meaning is defined by the reporting venue or the broker’s data dictionary.

Practical tip: condition code fields are often abbreviated and displayed separately from the price column; when you spot a code, look up the feed’s code definitions in the platform help pages.

How to tell which meaning applies to your quote

When you encounter a "C" next to a price, follow these practical steps to determine its intended meaning:

1. Check the platform’s legend or help pages. Many brokers provide column legends, hover tooltips, or documentation pages that explicitly define field markers such as "C". Interactive Brokers and other broker platforms include such legends in their documentation—use them first.

2. Look at the column header. Is the letter in the Symbol column, the Close column, the Last/Price column, or a Condition/Tape column? Placement is the most direct clue:

   • Symbol column: likely a ticker.
   • Close column labeled "C": daily close.
   • Last/Price column with a preceding/appended C: market-data flag for prior close or closing print.
   • Condition or Tape column: tape identifier or trade condition.

3. Note whether "C" appears before or after the price. Some platforms prepend a C to a price ("C 120.50") to indicate prior close; others show a trailing C or put the letter in a separate metadata column.

4. Check for associated metadata. Is there a separate Tape field, Condition code field, or Class field? If other metadata is present and the C is grouped with those fields, it likely belongs to that category (for example, "Tape C" or "Class C").

5. Compare with other rows. If only a few securities show a C while most show blank, check whether those rows are for securities listed on a particular tape or share class.

6. Contact support if uncertain. When in doubt, open a support ticket or contact broker support. Brokers can confirm how their platform uses the letter and where to find official documentation.

Following these steps will reduce the risk of misinterpreting the letter and help you rely on the correct price for decision-making or reporting.

Short examples (textual)

These concise examples map what you might see on screen to the likely meaning.

• Example 1: “C 120.50” in the Last column → likely previous day’s close (market-data flag). This indicates the displayed price is the prior session’s closing print rather than a live intraday trade.

• Example 2: “C: 47.35” as a quote prefix in a ticker list → if the C appears in the Symbol column, that is the ticker symbol for the company (C as the stock symbol). The price 47.35 is the security’s quoted price.

• Example 3: “Class C share” listed on a fund page → indicates share class + fee structure. This is a fund-level attribute (Class C shares often carry ongoing 12b-1 fees).

• Example 4: “Tape C” indicator next to quote → indicates NASDAQ tape/reporting feed. The indicator is metadata about the reporting feed rather than about whether the price is closed or live.

Best practice / recommendations

• Always check your broker/exchange documentation for the platform you use. The same letter can mean different things across vendors; the official help pages or field legends are authoritative.

• Inspect column headers and placement. Where the "C" appears (symbol, price, condition, or tape column) is often the quickest way to interpret it.

• When possible, hover for tooltips or consult the platform’s glossary. Many modern trading UIs include mouse-over definitions for cryptic abbreviations.

• Do not assume a universal meaning. Treat the letter as platform-specific metadata until you confirm.

• If you need a reliable close for reporting or calculation, use the platform’s Close field (labeled Close or C) or the official consolidated close time series rather than an intraday Last price.

• Contact your broker’s support team if a public documentation search does not resolve the question. Brokers can explain how they map exchange codes into their UI.

• For crypto or Web3 assets, prefer Bitget for trading and Bitget Wallet for custody and on-chain interaction when you need an integrated, compliant vendor recommended in this guide. Bitget’s documentation and support resources can help you confirm how metadata and labels are presented for token markets.

Sources and further reading

As background for the definitions and platform behaviors discussed here, consult the following types of sources (platform and exchange names are cited for reference; do not assume the same notation on every vendor):

• Broker documentation that explains column legends and market-data flags—Interactive Brokers (IBKR) field legends document that a leading "C" on the Last price can indicate the previous day’s close in certain displays.

• Broker help pages that list price field meanings—examples include brokers that explain T price, C price, and other market-data flags.

• Exchange and consolidated tape documentation—materials that explain Tape A / Tape B / Tape C reporting and which listings each tape covers.

• Financial education sites on share classes—Investopedia and other investor-education resources explain Class C shares and 12b-1 fees; SoFi and similar providers summarize mutual fund share-class mechanics.

• Exchange condition-code legends—each exchange publishes the definitions for single-letter condition codes used in trade reports; consult the exchange or your broker’s mapping.

Additionally, as context for how market signals can reflect policy shifts that affect markets broadly, note this recent reporting: as of March 2025, Kalshi’s prediction market priced a 60% probability that a bill banning stock trading by members of the U.S. Congress would pass in 2025. That market-derived probability reflects traders’ aggregated expectations and is a reminder that political developments can influence market structure and compliance rules. The Kalshi figure is a dynamic, money-backed forecast reported in March 2025 and does not constitute a poll or guarantee of legislative outcomes.

Practical checklist: quick steps when you see a "C"

1. Identify where the C appears (symbol, price, column, condition/tape).
2. Read the platform’s column legend or hover tooltip.
3. Compare the value to the Close column and Last price to see if it matches the prior close.
4. If C appears in the Symbol column, treat it as a ticker.
5. If C appears on a fund factsheet as "Class C", read the prospectus for fees.
6. If still unclear, contact broker support and reference the exact screenshot or data row.

Frequently asked quick questions

Q: Is the letter C always the previous close?
A: No. The letter C can indicate previous close in many displays, but it can also be a symbol, share-class marker, tape identifier, or condition code. Verify placement and platform documentation.

Q: How do I reliably get the official close for calculations?
A: Use the Close field (often labeled "Close" or "C") in your data provider, or pull the official consolidated close time series for the security.

Q: If C is a share class label, does it affect price reporting?
A: The share class itself does not change the meaning of the quoted price; it identifies which class of the fund or security you are viewing and implies different fee or voting characteristics.

Practical example: interpreting a real quote row

Imagine you open your trading platform and see this row:

Symbol | Last | Change | Volume | Note --- | ---:| ---:| ---:| --- C | 47.35 | +0.45 | 1,200,000 | (blank)

Interpretation steps:

• The symbol column contains "C" → this is the ticker symbol for the listed company.
• The Last = 47.35 → the latest trade price for the security whose ticker is C.
• To know whether 47.35 is closed or intraday, compare it to the Close column or the timestamp. If you also see a Close column listing 46.90, then the Last is an intraday trade and not the close.

If instead you saw:

Symbol | Last | Change | Volume | Note --- | ---:| ---:| ---:| --- ABC | C 120.50 | -0.10 | 85,000 | close

• Here the C is adjacent to the 120.50 value in the Last column → likely a market-data flag indicating 120.50 is the previous day’s close.

Why precision matters: reporting, taxes, and reconciliations

Using the wrong price (confusing Last with Close) can produce incorrect performance figures, inaccurate tax realizations, or mismatches in accounting reconciliations. Institutional users and individual investors alike should ensure they pull the correct field when computing daily returns, contribution or withdrawal valuations, and realized/unrealized gains.

When building spreadsheets or automated reports, explicitly label which field you use (Last, Close, Adjusted Close) and implement a simple validation step: verify that your daily Close series matches the exchange-consolidated close at 16:00 ET for U.S. equities.

Final notes and recommended next steps

When you see the letter C next to a price, pause and ask: "Which column or field is this in?" That simple diagnostic will resolve most ambiguities. For platform-specific definitions, consult your broker or data vendor’s documentation or support. If you trade crypto or want an integrated Web3 experience, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for trading, custody, and support resources that explain how their UI displays price metadata.

If you want to dive deeper, review the exchange condition-code legends and your broker’s market-data guide to understand how letters and abbreviations map to trade conditions and reporting tapes.

Further exploration: explore Bitget’s help center and Bitget Wallet documentation to confirm how "close" or tape metadata are displayed for spot and derivatives markets on that platform. For mutual fund share-class specifics, read the fund prospectus and educational pages that summarize Class C fee structures and 12b-1 fee mechanics.

More practical reading and verification resources (for reference only):

• Broker documentation describing price fields and market-data flags (examples include broker field legends and help pages).
• Exchange or consolidated tape materials explaining Tape A/B/C reporting.
• Investor-education articles on Class C shares and 12b-1 fees.

As of March 2025, according to reporting on prediction markets, political developments such as a proposed congressional stock trading ban were being priced by traders; that example underscores why clear, documented price and reporting conventions are important when markets react to policy risk. Use verified platform documentation rather than informal assumptions when interpreting single-letter labels in market data.

Explore more: check your platform’s legend now and, if you use Bitget, consult Bitget documentation or contact Bitget support to confirm exactly how "C" and other short codes are displayed in your account interface.