COMING TO TERMS TIME TO TAKE STOCK

Sure, buying stocks can be risky business, especially if you are ultra-conservative with your finances. However, if you decide to take a leap of faith and invest in the stock market, here are the ones industry experts feel are the best bets in 2015.

SALESFORCE.COM (CRM)

nance/2014/03/24/20-ways-we-blow-our-money/6826633/; newportinternationalgroup.com/ glossary.html; keplergroup.co.nz/glossary-of-common-fi nancial-terms/; businessdictionary.com/defi nition/bond html; investorwords.com/4725/stoc k.html; money.howstuffworks. com/personal-fi nance/fi nancial-planning/dow-jones-industrial-average.htm; kiplinger.com/slideshow/investing/T052-S003-25-best-s tocks-for-2015/index.html

We hear financial terminology being tossed around frequently, but most of us really have no idea what those words really mean. With the help of this mini-glossary, perhaps you won’t sound as phony as a three-dollar bill next time you discuss finances.

Annual percentage rate (APR): The interest rate charged on the amount borrowed.

Annuity: A contract sold by an insurance company that guarantees holders a series of payments at fixed intervals.

Bear market: A declining market.

Bull market: An advancing market.

Dow Jones Industrial Average: The market average of 30 large, industrial stocks from companies such as General Motors, Goodyear and IBM.

NASDAQ: An automated network, or electronic stock market, used for trading over-the-counter stock, with an emphasis on high-tech and developing companies.

New York Stock Exchange: The world’s largest organized securities market, founded in 1792 and located on Wall Street.

Headquartered in San Francisco, this company makes software to enhance relationships between businesses and their customers.

52-week high: $67

52-week low: $48.18

Annual revenues: $5.07 billion

Projected 2015 earnings growth: 35 percent

GOOGLE (GOOG)

Google, one of the most popular websites in the world, earnings has been growing at more than 20 percent each year.

52-week high: $615.05

52-week low: $511

Annual revenues: $67.91 billion

Projected 2015 earnings growth: 18 percent

LOCKHEED MARTIN (LMT)

TWITTER (TWTR)

This popular social media company has 284 million active users, and its revenues double every year.

52-week high: $74.73

52-week low: $29.51

Annual revenues: $1.17 billion

Projected 2015 earnings growth: 240 percent

APPLE (APPL)

Apple is famous for its computers and computer software. In September 2014, the company enjoyed its strongest revenue growth rate of the past seven quarters.

52-week high: $118.77

52-week low: $70.51

Annual revenues: $182.80 billion

Projected 2015 earnings growth: 20 percent