Foreign Company Listings on Stock Exchanges in the U.S. (2024)

On December 31, 2020, the Trump administration announced in an executive order concerning the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The order states that the NYSE would be delisting three foreign companies that are Chinese telecom giants. This move came in the wake of ongoing tension between the U.S. and China over national security concerns. Just a month earlier, the Trump administration issued an executive order prohibiting Americans from investing in 35 Chinese companies. In January 2021, the Trump administration went even further by suggesting that they might prohibit Americans from investing in Alibaba and Tencent, China’s two largest publicly-listed companies.

The explanation provided for these decisions was that American investments in Chinese companies are strengthening China’s military, intelligence, and security services. The U.S. government says China Mobile Ltd., China Telecom Corp., and China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. may no longer trade on the NYSE as of January 11, 2021.

This sparks the question of why foreign companies list their shares on U.S. stock exchanges in the first place. After all, most countries could list their shares on a stock exchange in their home country. All three telecom giants—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—have dual listings of their shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the NYSE. Alibaba and Tencent similarly have dual listings on these exchanges. A number of other foreign companies list shares on both a domestic exchange as well as either the NYSE or NASDAQ. These foreign companies include Toyota, Ericsson, BlackBerry, and Nokia.

Reasons Foreign Issuers Are Attracted to Listing on U.S. Exchanges

Foreign companies that seek to list on U.S. financial markets are often looking for liquidity advantages. The also seek to raise additional capital. These companies can increase their liquidity by making their shares accessible to a wider group of global investors. Foreign issuer listings can also boost credibility because of the relatively stringent standards required to list on U.S. stock exchanges. On the flipside, some foreign exchanges may have even stricter standards than U.S. exchanges. Foreign companies might find thee stricter standards too burdensome. For example, Chinese exchanges impose overbearing regulations on public companies. This has motivated some Chinese companies to list on a U.S. exchange instead.

American Depositary Shares

As a result of legal requirements, foreign companies listing on U.S. exchanges must create American Depositary Shares (ADSs) for Americans to purchase. The ADSs represent securities in the foreign company that trade on U.S. exchanges. A U.S. custodian bank acts as an intermediary, holding the economic rights in the shares. For example, Wanda Sports Group, a Chinese global sports media platform, listed its ADSs on Nasdaq when it went public.

When a foreign company loses its listing, the exchange removes its American Depositary Shares from trading on the exchange. Luckily for investors, the ADSs will usually not become worthless in such a scenario. They still represent an economic interest in the company. Americans who hold ADSs in the three Chinese telecoms will be able to exchange their ADSs for shares of the respective company listed in Hong Kong.

Foreign Company Listings on Stock Exchanges in the U.S. (1)

SEC Regulatory Requirements for Foreign Issuers Listing in the U.S.

Form 6-K is the analogue of a Form 8-K for foreign private issuers. An issuer must file it with the SEC promptly after the issuer makes a material disclosure to shareholders. Many foreign private issuers also elect to disclose unaudited quarterly financial reports. U.S. issuers must report using Form 10-Q within 45 days of each quarter-end, by filing their quarterly results with the SEC on Form 6-K. Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, foreign private issuers need not submit quarterly financial results to the SEC.

Form 20-F is the analogue of a Form 10-K for foreign private issuers. U.S. public companies must file audited annual financials with the SEC within 90 days of the fiscal year-end on Form 10-K. The report submitted on Form 10-K must include, in addition to consolidated audited financial statements, an overview of the company’s business and discussion of key risk factors. Unlike U.S. issuers, foreign private issuers may take up to 4 months after the end of the fiscal year to a file a Form 20-F with the SEC containing similar content to the Form 10-K.

If a tender offer takes the form of an exchange offer, a foreign private issuer must file a Form F-4, which is the analogue of a Form S-4 for U.S. companies. A tender offer occurs when shareholders are actively solicited to sell their shares for a premium above the prevailing market price during a limited timeframe. In this context, the SEC requires submission of a registration statement for the offered securities on Form F-4.

Exemptions for Foreign Companies Listing in the U.S.

Unlike U.S.-based companies, foreign issuers are exempt from the requirement to have a board with a majority of independent directors. An audit committee is the only type of committee that foreign companies are required to have. U.S. companies listing on the NYSE or NASDAQ must have a compensation committee.

Additionally, for preparing financial reports, foreign issuers are allowed to choose between two accounting standards. They are the International Financing Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). U.S. companies must use U.S. GAAP.

Foreign Company Listings on Stock Exchanges in the U.S. (2024)

FAQs

Foreign Company Listings on Stock Exchanges in the U.S.? ›

Over 530 of the world's largest and most influential international companies are listed on the NYSE, spanning across 45 countries. We help fuel the visions of today's greatest leaders, icons and innovators, providing access to the resources they need to raise capital and change the world.

How many foreign companies are listed on US stock exchanges? ›

Over 530 of the world's largest and most influential international companies are listed on the NYSE, spanning across 45 countries. We help fuel the visions of today's greatest leaders, icons and innovators, providing access to the resources they need to raise capital and change the world.

Can foreign companies be listed on US exchanges? ›

Foreign companies can apply to list directly on U.S. Stock Exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Why do foreign companies list on US stock exchange? ›

Foreign companies that seek to list on U.S. financial markets are often looking for liquidity advantages. The also seek to raise additional capital. These companies can increase their liquidity by making their shares accessible to a wider group of global investors.

Can a foreign company be listed on Nasdaq? ›

In addition to the Nasdaq-related requirements for listing, a foreign private issuer must register the class of securities it intends to list with the SEC by filing a registration statement (Form 20-F).

How many Chinese companies are listed on US stock exchanges? ›

This table includes Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, and NYSE American, the three largest U.S. exchanges. * As of January 9, 2023, there were 252 Chinese companies listed on these U.S. exchanges with a total market capitalization of $1.03 trillion.

What foreign companies operate in the US? ›

The Largest Foreign Investments In The U.S.
Global 2000 RankForeign InvestorRevenue (Millions)
1HSBC Holdings20,200
20AXA Group19,497
79GlaxoSmithKline19,050
36Volkswagen18,332
46 more rows
Apr 10, 2008

Are foreign companies subject to US securities laws? ›

That case, Stoyas v. Toshiba Corp., found that a foreign issuer could be liable under US securities laws for a sale of its securities in the US, even if the company was not involved in the sale.

How would someone buy a foreign stock that is not listed on any of the US stock exchanges? ›

Investors can access foreign stocks via ADRs, GDRs, direct investing, mutual funds, ETFs, and MNCs.

Can a foreign company go on IPO? ›

Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are the most common countries for IPOs that list in the U.S. Dealogic is the main source of information on foreign IPOs, because Thomson Financial frequently classifies a follow-on offering that simultaneously includes a U.S. listing as an ...

Why did Alibaba list on NYSE? ›

Alibaba was originally characterized as China's answer to Amazon. The company went public in the U.S. by listing on the NYSE in September 2014. Many believe that Alibaba's founders chose to go public in the U.S. to retain control of the company.

Why do Chinese companies list their shares in New York? ›

Foreign companies get higher valuations when the cross-list in New York, compared to companies that do not cross-list. That's why they do it.

Can non US companies list on Nasdaq? ›

In general, foreign issuers that list on the NYSE or NASDAQ follow the same rules and regulations as US companies, but there are certain exceptions for companies that qualify as foreign private issuers (the process of qualifying as a foreign private issuer will be discussed later in this article).

Can an Indian company be listed on Nasdaq? ›

An Indian company was for the first time ever getting directly listed in a US securities exchange. India's leading information technology company began trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol “INFY”.

Does S&P include foreign companies? ›

The S&P 500 is an index of U.S. companies.

Can a company be in the Dow and Nasdaq? ›

Because nearly half of the exchange by weight is made up of tech companies, the Nasdaq is widely considered a better gauge for the technology industry. Some of these companies may also be included on the Dow, the S&P 500, or both.

Which major Chinese companies are listed in the US? ›

273 Stocks
No.SymbolCompany Name
1BABAAlibaba Group Holding Limited
2PDDPDD Holdings Inc.
3NTESNetEase, Inc.
4JDJD.com, Inc.
61 more rows

Will Alibaba be delisted in US? ›

More than 100 Chinese companies — including Alibaba, JD.com, and Baidu — had been identified by the US securities regulator as facing delisting in 2024 if they did not hand over the audits of their financial statements.

What are the five US listed Chinese companies to delist from NYSE? ›

Five major Chinese companies, including China Life Insurance Company, PetroChina Company Limited, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, and Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited, recently indicated they will voluntarily delist from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Who is the largest foreign investor in the US? ›

A few countries provided the majority of the $5 trillion in cumulative direct investment in the United States by the end of 2021. Japan was the single largest overseas investor, constituting nearly 15 percent of total cumulative foreign direct investment holdings.

What foreign companies invest in the US? ›

The main investing countries in the U.S. are Japan, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Most of these investments are in manufacturing, financial and insurance activities, and trade and maintenance. In 2021, California received the most investment, followed by Massachusetts and New York (BEA).

Who is the largest investor in the United States? ›

1. Warren Buffett. As one of the world's wealthiest investors, Warren Buffett almost needs no introduction. He's CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a $665 billion conglomerate that acts as the holding company for Buffett's investments, both its wholly-owned companies and its stocks.

What is the rule 144 for foreign issuers? ›

Beginning January 4, 2023, foreign private issuers of Rule 144A debt securities will be required to make certain financial information publicly available in order to allow for publication of quotations of such securities in the over-the-counter markets pursuant to Rule 15c2-11 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of ...

How do you tell if a company is a foreign private issuer? ›

How do you know if you are a foreign private issuer? Test # 1: The company is incorporated outside the United States and more than half of its voting securities are owned of record by non-US residents. Companies that meet these requirements automatically qualify as FPIs.

Does SEC have jurisdiction over foreign companies? ›

“If you've got a foreign company issuing securities or trading securities that are all offshore and the purchasers of those securities are all offshore, then the SEC should not really have any hook to go after them, but if any kind of a prong of a securities transaction touches the US, then the SEC generally views ...

How do I buy foreign stocks in the US? ›

How Do You Buy International Stocks?
  1. Buy individual stocks directly on international exchanges. ...
  2. Access international stocks via American Depository Receipts (ADRs). ...
  3. Invest internationally through ETFs and/or mutual funds.
Mar 28, 2023

Can I buy stock in a foreign company? ›

Buying stocks directly in a foreign market like India or China is possible, although it might be harder than purchasing domestic shares. Investors can purchase American Depositary Receipts on U.S. exchanges, which are certificates that represent shares in a foreign company. China A-shares are open to foreign investors.

What is the easiest way to invest in foreign stock is to purchase? ›

The easiest way to add international stocks to your portfolio is by investing in U.S.-registered mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that track foreign markets. Why U.S.-registered? To avoid potential risks and costs associated with investing in foreign markets (more on that below).

Who Cannot participate in IPOs? ›

Industry insiders are defined as: FINRA member firms (financial firms registered with FINRA), their employees, and their immediate family members are considered “restricted persons” and are prohibited from purchasing common stock IPOs.

Can private companies be on the stock exchange? ›

Private companies may issue stock and have shareholders, but their shares do not trade on public exchanges and are not issued through an initial public offering (IPO). As a result, private firms do not need to meet the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) strict filing requirements for public companies.

Can an Indian company go public in US? ›

Indian companies wanting to list their shares in the U.S. stock exchanges would have to issue them in the form of depository receipts. There are two types of depository receipts that are relevant here: American Depository Receipt (ADR) and Global Depository Receipt (GDR).

What is the largest IPO in history? ›

Saudi Aramco

IPO Capital raise: $25.6 billion. Current valuation (2023): $1.93 trillion. The largest IPO of all time somewhat unsurprisingly goes to Saudi Arabian oil giant, Saudi Aramco.

What happens to my shares if Alibaba delists? ›

What Happens If a Stock Is Delisted? When delisted, the stock becomes no longer publicly listed on the stock market. In Alibaba's case, it wouldn't be traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The delisted stock could still be traded over-the-counter (OTC), which means that it trades in a decentralized market.

What is the largest IPO in the US? ›

Largest IPOs in the U.S. 2022

At nearly 22 billion U.S. dollars, the 2014 initial public offering (IPO) of Alibaba Group Holding Limited remains the largest IPO in the United States ever. Trailing by almost four billion U.S. dollars, Visa takes second place, followed by ENEL SpA, an energy company based in Italy.

What companies China owns in America? ›

Keep reading to see which U.S. giants are backed by foreign conglomerates.
  • AMC. Popular cinema company AMC, short for American Multi-Cinema, has been around for over a century and is headquartered in Leawood, KS. ...
  • General Motors. ...
  • Spotify. ...
  • Snapchat. ...
  • Hilton Hotels. ...
  • General Electric Appliance Division. ...
  • 49 Comments.
Jan 12, 2021

Do I lose my money if a stock is delisted? ›

You don't automatically lose money as an investor, but being delisted carries a stigma and is generally a sign that a company is bankrupt, near-bankrupt, or can't meet the exchange's minimum financial requirements for other reasons. Delisting also tends to prompt institutional investors to not continue to invest.

Does China owe money to US? ›

As of January 2023, the five countries owning the most US debt are Japan ($1.1 trillion), China ($859 billion), the United Kingdom ($668 billion), Belgium ($331 billion), and Luxembourg ($318 billion).

Is Nasdaq-100 only American companies? ›

In addition to its almost complete lack of financial companies, the Nasdaq-100 includes five companies incorporated outside the United States. Although the S&P 500 Index includes non-U.S. companies, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has never included foreign companies.

Is Nasdaq only US companies? ›

Both the NASDAQ Composite and the NASDAQ 100 include U.S. companies and businesses outside the country. This differs from other major indexes, as the DJIA currently only consists of U.S. companies.

What is the minimum stock price in the NYSE? ›

NYSE Listing Requirements

Its share price must be a minimum of $4.00, and the market value of its publicly held shares must be at least $40 million—or $100 million for transfers and certain other listings. In addition, the company must be profitable, earning at least $10 million over the past three years.

Why are Indian companies listed in USA? ›

Indian companies wishing to raise money from the American market can enlist their shares on American Stock Exchange. Since an Indian company cannot directly issue its shares in a foreign stock exchange, ADR is a means by which Indian companies draw American investors and their capital.

Which Indian companies are listed on Dow Jones? ›

The presence of prominent Indian brands listed on US stock exchanges is remarkable. Companies like Sify Technologies, Infosys, Wipro, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Azure Power Global, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Yatra Online, and MakeMyTrip have successfully entered the US market and achieved recognition.

Which Indian company planning to list itself on NASDAQ US stock exchange? ›

Infosys was the first Indian company to be listed on the NASDAQ, an American Stock Exchange. NASDAQ is the second largest exchange in the world. Q. What was the event due to which the Indian Railways turned to TISCO for their steel requirements?

Is the S&P 500 only US companies? ›

The S&P 500 is a stock market index that measures the performance of about 500 companies in the U.S. It includes companies across 11 sectors to offer a picture of the health of the U.S. stock market and the broader economy.

Does Nasdaq include international companies? ›

Nasdaq-100 Index®

The companies in the Nasdaq-100® include 100-plus of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization.

Does Nasdaq include foreign stocks? ›

Some foreign companies list their stocks on U.S. exchanges in addition to their home markets, in which case you can simply purchase shares on the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) through domestic brokerages, just as you would for a U.S.-based company.

Can a company be in the Dow and S&P 500? ›

The S&P 500 includes 500 large, U.S.-based publicly traded companies, including all those listed in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, regardless of the stock exchange that is home to their trading activity.

Is Apple on Nasdaq or Dow? ›

Apple stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol AAPL.

Can companies list on NYSE and Nasdaq? ›

A company can list its shares on more than one exchange, which is often referred to as a dual-listing. A stock can trade on any exchange in which it is listed. However, companies must meet all of the exchange's listing requirements and pay for any associated fees in order to be listed.

How much foreign investment is in the US stock market? ›

The U.S. FDI stock in 2021 reached USD 13,619 billion. Equity investments were up by 54%, and new greenfield project announcements also increased (+28%) to USD 86 billion.

How many companies are listed on the US stock market? ›

USA: Listed companies
USANumber of companies listed on the stock exchange
Latest value4266
Measurecompanies
SourceThe World Bank
1 more row

Are there Chinese companies in the S&P 500? ›

Bloomberg Ticker : SPC500CP

The S&P China 500 comprises 500 of the largest, most liquid Chinese companies while approximating the sector composition of the broader Chinese equity market. All Chinese share classes including A-shares and offshore listings are eligible for inclusion.

What percent of US stock market is owned by foreigners? ›

Our new analysis shows that foreign investors owned about 40 percent of US corporate equity in 2019, up substantially over the last few decades.

Who is the biggest foreign investor in US? ›

Japan was the single largest overseas investor, constituting nearly 15 percent of total cumulative foreign direct investment holdings. Germany overtook Canada last year as the second-largest investor in the United States with 13 percent in FDIUS stock.

Who owns most of the stocks in the US? ›

The top 10% of income earners own 70% of the stock market.

Families in the top 10% of income earners accounted for 70% of the dollar value of all stock holdings in 2019, with a median of $432,000 worth of stock per invested household. Meanwhile, the bottom 60% of income earners owned only 7% of all stock that year.

How many US companies are listed on the Nasdaq? ›

The NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an electronic stock exchange with more than 3,300 company listings.

Which country has most listed companies? ›

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the 1st on the list of the largest stock exchange in the world and is a highly esteemed stock exchange in the USA which is situated at 11, Wall Street, New York City. It was established on May 17, 1792, and consists of 2,400 listed companies.

How many companies are listed on the Dow Jones? ›

The Dow 30 is a widely-watched stock market index comprising of 30 large U.S. publicly traded companies. It is also called the "Dow" or the "Dow Jones Industrial Average."

Why list on Nasdaq instead of NYSE? ›

The primary advantages for a company listing on the Nasdaq exchange are lower listing fees and lower minimum requirements to qualify for a listing. The fact that Nasdaq features all-electronic trading is considered an advantage by many traders as well.

Can private companies be on Nasdaq? ›

Private company shares are not listed on the stock exchange and are traded privately or over the counter. For a company to be listed on the stock exchange it has to offer its shares to the public through initial public offerings (IPO).

What are the largest companies not in the S&P 500? ›

Blackstone, with a market value of about $110 billion, is the largest company ranked by market value not in the S&P 500 index. Other companies that may now be included in the S&P as a result of the rule change are Snowflake (SNOW), Snap (SNAP), Workday (WDAY), and KKR (KKR).

Is the S&P 500 just US companies? ›

The S&P 500 is a stock market index that measures the performance of about 500 companies in the U.S. It includes companies across 11 sectors to offer a picture of the health of the U.S. stock market and the broader economy.

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