Major stock exchanges like the Nasdaq are exclusive clubs - their reputations rest on the companies they trade. As such, the Nasdaq won't allow just any company to be traded on their exchanges. They only want the cream of the crop - companies with a solid history and top-notch management behind them.

The Nasdaq has three sets of listing requirements. The company must meet at least one of the three requirement sets, as well as the main rules for all companies.

Listing Requirements for All Companies Rule 4420
Each company must have a minimum of 1.1 million publicly-traded shares upon listing, excluding those held by officers, directors or any beneficial owners of more then 10% of the company. The minimum bid price of the stock upon listing must be at least $5. Each listing firm is also required to follow Nasdaq Corporate Governance rules 4350, 4351 and 4360. Companies must also have at least 400 shareholders. A shareholder is defined by Nasdaq as a holder of over 100 shares.

Requirement Rule 4420 (a)
The company must have a minimum shareholder equity of $15 million. The operating income from either the last fiscal year, or two of the last three years, must total a minimum of $1 million. The company must have a minimum of three market makers that will provide liquidity to the trading of their stock. The market value of the publicly-held shares upon trading must be worth at least $8 million.

Requirement Rule 4420 (b)
The company must have a minimum shareholder equity of $30 million. The market value of the shares traded must be at least $18 million upon listing. The company also has to have a minimum operating history of two years. It is also required to have three market makers. What can be seen here is that if a company did not earn enough to meet the operating income minimum, they need to have greater shareholder equity and a larger market value.

Requirement Rule 4420 (c)
Under this requirement companies must have at least $75 million in total assets, total revenue, or listed securities. Listed securities as defined by the Nasdaq are securities listed on either a Nasdaq or another national exchange. The market value of the shares upon listing must be worth at least $20 million. They are also required to add an additional market maker for a total of four market makers.

A company has three ways to get listed on the Nasdaq depending on the underlying fundamentals of the company. If a company does not meet certain criteria such as the operating income minimum, it has to make it up with larger minimum amounts in another area like revenue. This helps to improve the quality of companies listed on the exchange.

It doesn't end there: after a company gets listed on the market, it must maintain certain standards to continue trading. Failure to meet the specifications set out by the stock exchange will result in its delisting. Falling below the minimum required share price, or market capitalization, is one of the major factors triggering a delisting. Again, the exact details of delisting depend on the exchange.

(For further reading on the Nasdaq and other U.S. exchanges, see Getting to Know Stock Exchanges and The Tale Of Two Exchanges.)

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