The term float refers to the regular shares a company has issued to the public that are available for investors to trade. This figure is derived by taking a company's outstanding shares and subtracting any restricted stock, which is stock that is under some sort of sales restriction.
What does float mean?
Float refers to the money that is double counted due to delays in the process of deducting funds from the payer and the depositing of the payee.
What is a float in banking?
In financial terms, the float is money within the banking system that is briefly counted twice due to time gaps in registering a deposit or withdrawal. These time gaps are usually due to the delay in processing paper checks. A bank credits a customer’s account as soon as a check is deposited.