
A stock uplisting is when a stock goes from being listed on the OTC markets to a major exchange (like the Nasdaq or New York Stock Exchange). OTC markets are broker-dealer networks that tend to be volatile. Trading on a standard exchange often means more trading volume, less volatility, and more liquidity.
What is OTC trading and how does it work?
OTC trading tends to focus on equities, i.e. stocks. In fact, it’s even common to see penny stocks being traded over the counter. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) generally defines penny stocks as stocks that trade for less than $5 per share. Penny stocks can also be referred to as micro-cap stocks.
What are over-the-counter (OTC) stocks?
Some companies choose to move to get the visibility and liquidity provided by a stock exchange. Over-the-counter (OTC) securities are those that are not listed on an exchange like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq. Instead of trading on a centralized network, these stocks trade through a broker-dealer network.
Why do companies up-list on OTC Markets?
They have lower listing requirements and lower investor standards. Often times, a company will premier on OTC markets and up-list to a larger one when they are ready. There are two main reasons that companies up-list.
What is uplisting of a stock?
Uplisting for the purpose of this discussion is when a stock moves from trading in the Over The Counter Market ("OTC") to NASDAQ or NYSE exchanges. I explain the differences between these trading platforms in this article.

What does it mean to Uplist a stock?
Uplisting means a listing of the Corporation's Common Stock to be traded on a national exchange such as NasdaqCM, NYSE Mkts or OTCQX.
What happens when an OTC stock goes to Nasdaq?
Depending on the circumstances, the stock symbol may change. A stock that moves from the OTC to Nasdaq often keeps its symbol—both allowing up to five letters. A stock that moves to the NYSE often must change its symbol, due to NYSE regulations that limit stock symbols to three letters.
How long does it take for a stock to Uplist?
Please also review our list of frequently asked questions. While it generally takes four to six weeks to process a listing application, this time frame is variable and may be shortened considerably, if the application raises no issues and the company responds quickly to Staff comments.
What happens when a stock is delisted from OTC?
What Happens to Shares When a Stock is Delisted? If a stock is delisted, shares may continue to trade over-the-counter on the OTC bulletin board. Shareholders can still trade the stock, though it is likely that the market will be less liquid.
Can you make money on OTC stocks?
It is possible to make money with penny stocks. Then again, it's technically possible to make money with any type of stock. Successful investors usually focus on the potential for their stock picks, regardless of price, to gain value over the long term.
What does Uplist to OTCQB mean?
What is the meaning of uplisting? In financial markets, uplisting refers to the practice of elevating a company from having its stock listed on an alternative trading platform such as the OTC Markets, ASX or the TSX, to a major stock exchange like the Nasdaq.
How high can OTC stocks go?
Just like mid and large cap stocks, there is no limit to how high a penny stock can go. Many massive, well-established companies were once trading for less than $5 per share.
What is the minimum share price for uplist to Nasdaq?
Rule #2: If the regular bid price of the shares of a company's stock are listed at a price of at least $4.00 a share, it can get listed. However, an exception is, if the closing price is $2.00 or $3.00. Ifthe company is meeting different requirements of getting listed, it can still get uplisted.
How many OTC stocks make it to Nasdaq?
58 Companies Uplist From The OTC To Nasdaq & NYSE in 2018.
Do I lose my money if a stock is delisted?
Once a stock is delisted, stockholders still own the stock. However, a delisted stock often experiences significant or total devaluation. Therefore, even though a stockholder may still technically own the stock, they will likely experience a significant reduction in ownership.
Is a delisted stock worthless?
The delisted company would have to avoid bankruptcy, solve the issue that forced the delisting, and again become compliant with the exchange's standards. What's more common than a relisting is that a delisted company goes bankrupt and the delisted stock becomes worthless.
How do I sell my delisted stock?
If a company is delisted, you are still a shareholder, to the extent of a number of shares held. And yet, you cannot sell those shares on any exchange. However, you can sell it on the over-the-counter market. This means you can look for a buyer outside the stock exchange.
What Are Over-the-Counter (OTC) Stocks?
Over-the-counter stocks are not traded on a public exchange like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq. Instead, these stocks are traded thr...
What Kind of Securities Trade on the Over-the-Counter Market?
OTC trading tends to focus on equities, i.e. stocks. Other types of investments that can be traded OTC include: derivatives, corporate bonds, gover...
So Where Are OTC Securities Traded, Exactly?
In the US, the majority of over-the-counter trading takes place on networks operated by OTC Markets Group. OTC Markets Group organizes OTC stocks a...
Why do stocks trade OTC?
Securities trade OTC is because they don't meet the financial or listing requirements to list on a market exchange. They are also low-priced and are thinly traded. OTC securities trading takes place in a few different ways.
What is over the counter trading?
Updated Apr 12, 2021. Over-the-counter markets can be used to trade stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities. This is a decentralized market that has, unlike a standard exchange, no physical location. That's why it's also referred to as off-exchange trading.
How many letters can a stock symbol change?
Depending on the circumstances, the stock symbol may change. A stock that moves from the OTC to Nasdaq often keeps its symbol—both allowing up to five letters. A stock that moves to the NYSE often must change its symbol, due to NYSE regulations that limit stock symbols to three letters.
What is OTCBB trading?
Traders can place buy and sell orders through the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB), an electronic service offered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). 1 There is also the OTC Markets Group—the largest operator of over-the-counter trading—which has eclipsed the OTCBB.
Why do companies delist?
Involuntary delistings are generally due to a company's failing financial health.
Why do companies list on the stock exchange?
Being able to list and trade on an exchange gives companies exposure and visibility in the market. In order to list, they must meet financial and listing requirements, which vary by exchange. For instance, many exchanges require companies to have a minimum number of publicly-held shares held at a specific value.
Why do stocks delist?
But there are other reasons why a stock may be forced to delist. If a company shuts down, goes through bankruptcy, merges or is acquired by another company, goes private, or fails to meet regulatory requirements, it may be required to delist involuntarily.
What is OTC Stock?
In order to grasp OTC stock trading and how it works, it helps to have a clear understanding of public stock exchanges.
What Kind of Securities Trade on the Over-the-Counter Market?
OTC trading tends to focus on equities, i.e. stocks. In fact, it’s even common to see penny stocks being traded over the counter. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) generally defines penny stocks as stocks that trade for less than $5 per share. Penny stocks can also be referred to as micro-cap stocks.
So Where Are OTC Securities Traded, Exactly?
In the US, the majority of over-the-counter trading takes place on networks operated by OTC Markets Group. This company runs the largest OTC trading marketplace and quote system in the country (the other is the OTC Bulletin Board or OTCBB).
Pros and Cons of OTC Trading
Investing can be risky in general, but the risks may be heightened with trading OTC stocks. But trading higher risk stocks could result in bigger rewards if they’re able to produce above-average returns.
The Takeaway
Why would you want to trade stocks over the counter? Since OTC stocks trade outside of traditional exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq, the OTC market gives you access to different types of securities, including penny stocks, international stocks, derivatives, corporate bonds, and even cryptocurrency.
What is OTC market?
OTC markets are organized to provide investors and liquidity to small public companies. They cannot compete with the size of the national exchanges, nor do they try. Instead, they cater to smaller investors and smaller businesses looking to grow. They have lower listing requirements and lower investor standards.
Why do companies uplist?
There are two main reasons that companies up-list. First, they do it because they have outgrown OTC markets, and want to perpetuate further growth. These companies are often looking to expand, and increase market share. In fact, a company’s up-listing event is sometimes referred to as its second IPO.
Why do con artists use OTC stocks?
These schemes often use OTC stocks because they are relatively unknown and unmonitored compared to exchange-traded stocks.
How are OTC stocks different from penny stocks?
How OTC Stocks Are Different. OTC stocks are known as penny stocks because they generally trade for less than $1 per share. 1 The companies that sell them usually have a market capitalization of $50 million or less. 2 .
Why do over the counter stocks not trade?
In most cases, they're trading OTC because they don't meet the stringent listing requirements of the major stock exchanges.
What is penny stock?
Over-the-counter stocks are known as penny stocks because most trade for under $1 per share. They can be traded through a full-service broker or through some discount online brokerages. Prices can be tracked through the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board. Purchases of OTC securities are made through market makers who carry an inventory ...
Can you short sell over the counter?
Although short selling is allowed on securities traded over-the-counter, it is not without potential problems. These stocks generally trade in low volumes. That makes them Illiquid. An investor trying to cover an unprofitable short position could get stuck. OTC securities also have been the focus of pump and dump schemes.
Can you trade stocks over the counter?
As usual, they can place limit or stop orders in order to implement price limits. Both stocks and bonds can be traded over the counter.
Is OTC listed on the NYSE?
The process of purchasing or selling over-the-counter (OTC) stocks can be different from trading stocks that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE) or the Nasdaq. This is because OTC stocks are, by definition, not listed.
What is the meaning of uplisting?
In financial markets, uplisting refers to the practice of elevating a company from having its stock listed on an alternative trading platform such as the OTC Markets, ASX or the TSX, to a major stock exchange like the Nasdaq.
Examples of uplisted stocks
A few examples of stocks that were recently trading OTC or in smaller exchanges and later moved up to a bigger exchange include:
Understanding uplisting requirements
Uplisting is an interesting process that can help small companies open the doors to numerous opportunities for growth.
Benefits of uplisting from an OTC market to a major exchange
The reasons for deciding to uplisting to a major stock exchange vary, but there are benefits to companies that do so.
Bottom Line
If shares of a company are traded on the OTC Markets and has news that it plans to uplist to the Nasdaq or the NYSE, it usually attracts some interest from investors.
How long did it take for Sinocoking to uplist?
Again, a good example of a much faster uplist is Sinocoking, which took only seven consecutive trading days after the time it traded at $3.50 on Feb 9 to the time it announced its uplisting on Feb. 19. However, as always, Nasdaq reserves the right to take longer than this based on its own criteria.
Is Biostar an uplister?
Biostar. specifically and some to uplistings in general. The complete rules for listing on the Nasdaq can be found. here. . Fact No. 1. . Uplisting isn't automatic. After a company meets all of the requirements for an uplisting, including financial requirements, corporate governance requirements and share price, it is still up to.
