I like to use AI for my research. Here are some AI generated facts in regard to the number of listed exchange stocks in USA. *****AI Overview The number of US public stocks has dropped drastically: from around 8,000+ in the 1990s (peaking near 8,800 in 1997) down to roughly 4,000-4,900 by late 2024/2025, representing a decline of about 50% due to regulatory costs, M&A, and private capital alternatives, with a trend continuing into 2025. 1990s (Peak Era)
~8,000 - 8,800+ Companies: The US stock market had significantly more publicly listed companies, peaking around 1997.
2025 (Current Trend)
~4,000 - 4,900 Companies: The number has roughly halved since the late 90s.
Wilshire 5000: Even broad indexes show this, with the Wilshire 5000 dropping from 5,000 to around 3,600 stocks.
Specific Exchanges (2025): Nasdaq had about 3,450, NYSE ~2,200, and OTC ~6,500 listings.
Why the Decline?
Regulatory Burden: Post-Sarbanes-Oxley, compliance costs have deterred companies from going public or staying public.
The issue with Aunt IRMAA is that once you hit a certain dollar amount one finds oneself kicked up into the the next much higher payment level. For example, our income was $12 above the next payment level for IRMAA triggering an additional $140 per month. If the Aunt IRMAA increase were similar to marginal tax bracket increases it would seem fair (to me). Now, I see we are nearing the next higher IRMAA level. It would be frustrating to earn a few extra dollars in income but need to pay hundreds more per year as a result.
If there is any truth to the presidential cycle theory then next year will be the 2nd year for this president and could inflict a major market downturn.
I think a method to use to keep people working longer is for the federal government to offer a $2000 tax credit against federal income taxes for anyone working full time past their 65th year. Some states with low unemployment rates could offer a similar tax credit against state income taxes.
More important than the dividend is the corporation's payout percentage. When reviewing a stock I always check the payout ratio. Personally, I prefer companies that have less than a 50% payout ratio. I don't understand how some companies cannot cover the shareholder dividend payment from free cash flow and do not suspend or cut the dividend.
I live in a 55+ development and find a good number of my fellow neighbors are driving fancy high priced vehicles, such as the Bentley, Porsches, and Mercedes What some of them do is rent the vehicle for a few years to enjoy the car. After they get the Bentley out of their system the leasee will move onto another fancy automobile.
Well, I'll be damned! It turns out to be one hell of a great country in which to live, after all. As a baby boomer, I think there is always opportunity in this great nation. Regardless of our occasional economic dislocations this is the best economic machine that mankind has been able to develop, so far. I am still in disbelief that our unemployment rate is below 4% for so long.
I am sincerely sorry to hear about the many times you were fired, let go, or laid off.
I was fired once. That was once too many. When I was 12 years old I was hired to work in the evening at a local delicatessen.
The owner of the store wanted me to restock the beverage freezer two hours before the store closed and to restock some shelves with canned goods. The job required me to go downstairs into the basement where the soda and beer were stored. I recall when turning on the basement light I would observe a scattering of many cockroaches running on the floor. The owner had a bad leg and could not go up and down stairs well. Hence, he hired a young boy to do the job. My pay was $1 per hour. I worked from 6-8pm. Legally, I was not supposed to work after dark. Boy, was I happy to make two bucks a night, too. After two weeks on the job I finished for the evening. The owner handed me the $2 dollars for the night and announced that his regular stock boy was returning from vacation and he would no longer be needing me. In other words, the owner had no intention of permanently hiring me I was only hired for the two weeks. I stood there stunned with a perplexed look on my face. I was in disbelief. To this day, I can still sense the feeling that came over my mood and body. I had been f___ed. I am a meek, mild, and sensitive type of person and can not forget that experience.
However, from that day onward I swore to myself I would never allow another man to have control over my paycheck or income. I swore that I would guide my career and money to never let this happen to me again (remember I was 12 years old).
From that point on I have never been broke, without an income, and never been fired, laid-off, or left a job other than voluntarily. I am now contently retired.
What an experience that was for me.
During the covid crisis my wife and I decided it was time to replace two of our three vehicles. First, we purchased an Acura RDX at dealer’s list price. Second, my wife had her heart set on a new Subaru Crosstrek in gray color. Due to the shortage of vehicles in the middle of the Covid crises it took about six months of surfing the internet to find the exact Crosstrek from a dealership within driving range. My wife had her heart set on the Subaru Crosstrek, especially in gray, her favorite color. Visiting the dealer, we found the exact car. I knew when I saw the car in the back lot that I was going to make this purchase. The mark-up this time was $3,000 over the dealer’s invoice. In my mind, I knew I was going to pay the piper as this could be that last car we buy. I hope not, but it could be. Returning to the salesperson’s desk I questioned the $3,000 mark-up. Naturally, he had to check with the sales manager to see if there could be an adjustment on the mark-up. The salesperson stated that if we could fully pay for the car that day they would shave $500 off the $3,000 mark-up. The deal was completed .
Today, we are both loving our beautiful Subaru, Crosstrek. In fact, I like driving it more than the more expensive Acura, RDX.
Go ahead and enjoy yourself!! So, you die leaving a few dollars less in the kitty.
Comments
I like to use AI for my research. Here are some AI generated facts in regard to the number of listed exchange stocks in USA. *****AI Overview The number of US public stocks has dropped drastically: from around 8,000+ in the 1990s (peaking near 8,800 in 1997) down to roughly 4,000-4,900 by late 2024/2025, representing a decline of about 50% due to regulatory costs, M&A, and private capital alternatives, with a trend continuing into 2025. 1990s (Peak Era)
- ~8,000 - 8,800+ Companies: The US stock market had significantly more publicly listed companies, peaking around 1997.
2025 (Current Trend)- ~4,000 - 4,900 Companies: The number has roughly halved since the late 90s.
- Wilshire 5000: Even broad indexes show this, with the Wilshire 5000 dropping from 5,000 to around 3,600 stocks.
- Specific Exchanges (2025): Nasdaq had about 3,450, NYSE ~2,200, and OTC ~6,500 listings.
Why the Decline?Post: The Incredible Shrinking — Stock Market?
Link to comment from December 17, 2025
The issue with Aunt IRMAA is that once you hit a certain dollar amount one finds oneself kicked up into the the next much higher payment level. For example, our income was $12 above the next payment level for IRMAA triggering an additional $140 per month. If the Aunt IRMAA increase were similar to marginal tax bracket increases it would seem fair (to me). Now, I see we are nearing the next higher IRMAA level. It would be frustrating to earn a few extra dollars in income but need to pay hundreds more per year as a result.
Post: IRMAA 2026 Of course it is fair
Link to comment from November 2, 2025
If there is any truth to the presidential cycle theory then next year will be the 2nd year for this president and could inflict a major market downturn.
Post: Is The Stock Market Overvalued?
Link to comment from October 18, 2025
I think a method to use to keep people working longer is for the federal government to offer a $2000 tax credit against federal income taxes for anyone working full time past their 65th year. Some states with low unemployment rates could offer a similar tax credit against state income taxes.
Post: Worried? Concerned? Confident? About the future of Social Security and Medicare
Link to comment from March 25, 2025
Realize that if you ar born in the United States that you have already won the lottery. The rest is up to you!
Post: What life lessons would you like to pass on to the next generation?
Link to comment from November 23, 2024
More important than the dividend is the corporation's payout percentage. When reviewing a stock I always check the payout ratio. Personally, I prefer companies that have less than a 50% payout ratio. I don't understand how some companies cannot cover the shareholder dividend payment from free cash flow and do not suspend or cut the dividend.
Post: Don’t Dis Dividends
Link to comment from November 9, 2024
I live in a 55+ development and find a good number of my fellow neighbors are driving fancy high priced vehicles, such as the Bentley, Porsches, and Mercedes What some of them do is rent the vehicle for a few years to enjoy the car. After they get the Bentley out of their system the leasee will move onto another fancy automobile.
Post: Quinn is considering buying a Bentley
Link to comment from September 8, 2024
Well, I'll be damned! It turns out to be one hell of a great country in which to live, after all. As a baby boomer, I think there is always opportunity in this great nation. Regardless of our occasional economic dislocations this is the best economic machine that mankind has been able to develop, so far. I am still in disbelief that our unemployment rate is below 4% for so long.
Post: Youth May Triumph
Link to comment from May 17, 2024
I am sincerely sorry to hear about the many times you were fired, let go, or laid off. I was fired once. That was once too many. When I was 12 years old I was hired to work in the evening at a local delicatessen. The owner of the store wanted me to restock the beverage freezer two hours before the store closed and to restock some shelves with canned goods. The job required me to go downstairs into the basement where the soda and beer were stored. I recall when turning on the basement light I would observe a scattering of many cockroaches running on the floor. The owner had a bad leg and could not go up and down stairs well. Hence, he hired a young boy to do the job. My pay was $1 per hour. I worked from 6-8pm. Legally, I was not supposed to work after dark. Boy, was I happy to make two bucks a night, too. After two weeks on the job I finished for the evening. The owner handed me the $2 dollars for the night and announced that his regular stock boy was returning from vacation and he would no longer be needing me. In other words, the owner had no intention of permanently hiring me I was only hired for the two weeks. I stood there stunned with a perplexed look on my face. I was in disbelief. To this day, I can still sense the feeling that came over my mood and body. I had been f___ed. I am a meek, mild, and sensitive type of person and can not forget that experience. However, from that day onward I swore to myself I would never allow another man to have control over my paycheck or income. I swore that I would guide my career and money to never let this happen to me again (remember I was 12 years old). From that point on I have never been broke, without an income, and never been fired, laid-off, or left a job other than voluntarily. I am now contently retired. What an experience that was for me.
Post: My Unemployed Life
Link to comment from October 22, 2023
During the covid crisis my wife and I decided it was time to replace two of our three vehicles. First, we purchased an Acura RDX at dealer’s list price. Second, my wife had her heart set on a new Subaru Crosstrek in gray color. Due to the shortage of vehicles in the middle of the Covid crises it took about six months of surfing the internet to find the exact Crosstrek from a dealership within driving range. My wife had her heart set on the Subaru Crosstrek, especially in gray, her favorite color. Visiting the dealer, we found the exact car. I knew when I saw the car in the back lot that I was going to make this purchase. The mark-up this time was $3,000 over the dealer’s invoice. In my mind, I knew I was going to pay the piper as this could be that last car we buy. I hope not, but it could be. Returning to the salesperson’s desk I questioned the $3,000 mark-up. Naturally, he had to check with the sales manager to see if there could be an adjustment on the mark-up. The salesperson stated that if we could fully pay for the car that day they would shave $500 off the $3,000 mark-up. The deal was completed . Today, we are both loving our beautiful Subaru, Crosstrek. In fact, I like driving it more than the more expensive Acura, RDX. Go ahead and enjoy yourself!! So, you die leaving a few dollars less in the kitty.
Post: My Car Journey
Link to comment from September 5, 2023