What does 52-Week High/Low mean?

A stock's 52-week high and low are the highest and lowest prices it has traded at over the past year — quick reference points for where the current price stands.

The 52-week high and low are the highest and lowest prices a stock has hit in the trailing year. Traders use them as quick reference points — a stock near its 52-week high shows strength, while one near its low may be out of favor or genuinely in trouble.

52-Week High/Low example

A stock with a 52-week range of $80–$140 trading at $85 sits near the bottom of its past year; at $138 it's near the top. The range gives context for today's price, nothing more.

Common beginner mistake

Buying because a stock is near its 52-week low on the theory that it "has to bounce." Stocks often hit new lows for good reasons.