Earnings: The amount of profit realized over a given time period.

Earnings per share (EPS): The amount of reported income on a per-share basis, calculated by dividing total earnings by the number of outstanding shares.

Earnings per share date: Date of the last earnings announcement.

Emerging market: An "emerging market" country is any country determined to have an emerging markets economy, considering factors such as whether the country has a low-to-middle-income economy according to the World Bank or its related organizations, the country's credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. These countries generally include countries located in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern and Central Europe.

Emerging market fund: A mutual fund investing a majority of its assets in the financial markets of one or more developing countries, typically small markets with a short operating history. Such funds usually take higher risks in exchange for higher potential returns.

Employer matching contribution: A company's contribution to an employee's retirement account.

Equity income funds: Mutual funds that invest in stocks and seek a high level of current income while attempting to minimize risk.

equity security
A type of security representing ownership in a corporation. Common stock, preferred stock, and convertible securities are all equity securities. Non-convertible debt securities do not represent ownership.

ERISA: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that created rules covering qualified retirement savings plans.

Estate: All assets a person owns at the time of death, such as securities, real estate, interests in business, life insurance, physical possessions and cash.

Estate tax: The tax owed on the assets of a deceased person before the assets are transferred to heirs.

Exchange: A system for the organized trading of securities. The major U.S. exchanges are the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange and Chicago Board Options Exchange. There are also regional exchanges throughout the country.

Ex-dividend: "Without dividend;" the buyer of a stock selling ex-dividend does not receive the recently declared split or dividend. After the ex-dividend date, the stock tables include the symbol "x" following the stock name.

Exchange-traded fund (ETF): (1)A closed end fund (i.e., with a fixed number of shares) with an active manager responsible for executing a defined investment strategy that is listed on an exchange and traded like a stock. (2) An open-end modified unit trust or investment company characterized by a dual trading process. Fund shares are created or redeemed in large blocks through the deposit of securities to, or delivery of securities from, the fund's portfolio. Secondary trading, in lots as small as a single fund share, takes place on a stock exchange. The dual trading process permits (and potential arbitrage requires) the fund shares to trade close to net asset value at all times. Open ETFs trade at prices very close to their current underlying value throughout the trading day and are usually more tax efficient than comparable conventional funds. HOLDRs and Folios, two alternative basket or portfolio products, are sometimes compared to ETFs (which are subject to investment company regulation and regulated investment company tax treatment) but the product structures are quite different.

Expense ratio: For a mutual fund or other investment company, the charge to fund assets for investment management, marketing, custody, administration and other related costs but not for unusual outlays for law suits or for trading expenses like brokerage commissions. Usually expressed in basis points or as a percentage of net assets.