Search
Close this search box.

Table of Contents

Valoren Number



Definition

A Valoren Number, also known as a Valor Number or Wertpapierkennnummer (WKN), is a unique identification number assigned to financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and investment funds. It is used by financial institutions in European countries, primarily in Germany and Switzerland, to facilitate trading and management of securities. The Valoren Number streamlines transactions and helps prevent confusion among similar investment products.

Phonetic

The phonetic representation of the keyword “Valoren Number” in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) would be:/ˈvælərən ˈnʌmbər/Here’s the breakdown:Valoren:/ˈvæl/ – (val) rhymes with “pal”/ə/ – schwa sound, like “uh”/rən/ – (ren) rhymes with “pen”Number:/ˈnʌm/ – (num) rhymes with “gum”/bər/ – (ber) rhymes with “her”

Key Takeaways

  1. Valoren Number is a unique identifier assigned to individuals, which helps in recordkeeping and providing services efficiently.
  2. It serves as a personal identification number or code, proving identity and allowing access to various services and programs.
  3. Valoren Numbers can be useful in tracking personal data, ensuring secure transactions, and maintaining privacy for individuals.

Importance

The Valoren Number is a unique identification number assigned to financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and options, primarily in the European and Swiss markets. It plays a crucial role in streamlining and simplifying the trading, clearing, and settlement processes by ensuring each security can be accurately identified and tracked. The number helps avoid confusion and minimize errors among market participants, and contributes to the overall efficiency, transparency, and security of financial markets. Furthermore, it serves as a basis for effective communication and data exchange among various stakeholders, including investors, financial institutions, and regulators.

Explanation

The Valoren Number serves as a crucial identification tool in the financial and business industry, especially when dealing with securities, stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. This alphanumeric code is analogous to a fingerprint, offering a unique identifier to each financial instrument and enabling market participants, such as investors, brokers, and regulators, to seamlessly track, monitor and manage transactions, portfolios, and asset holdings. As international trade and cross-border investments continue to flourish, so does the importance of the Valoren Number as a fundamental communication element that ensures greater transparency, efficiency, and consistency in the global financial markets. One of the primary uses of the Valoren Number lies in reducing the risk of errors that could arise from misunderstandings or ambiguities while processing trades and updating records. By providing a standardized code for each security, the Valoren Number simplifies communication among market participants and streamlines the flow of information. This, in turn, helps in the consolidation and reconciliation of financial statements and regulatory reporting. Furthermore, the use of Valoren Numbers has facilitated the automation of many back-office processes, thereby reducing time-consuming and error-prone manual interventions. Overall, the Valoren Number serves to enhance the operational efficiency, accuracy, and dependability of financial systems, ultimately contributing to a more reliable, secure, and thriving marketplace.

Examples

The term “Valoren Number” refers to a unique identification number assigned to securities, such as stocks, bonds, and other tradable financial instruments primarily in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Valoren Number is similar to the CUSIP number in the United States or ISIN internationally. Here are three real-world examples related to Valoren Number: 1. Nestlé S.A.: Nestlé S.A. is a Swiss multinational food and beverage company. It has a Valoren Number “A0Q4DC” , which allows investors and financial institutions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to identify and track the security when making trades or analyzing investment portfolios. 2. Novartis AG: Novartis AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland. The Valoren Number “A1WYMX” is used to uniquely identify this company’s stock and helps facilitate trades, record-keeping, and portfolio management for the financial instruments issued by Novartis. 3. Roche Holding AG: One of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Roche Holding AG, is headquartered in Switzerland. The Valoren Number, “A0RGR0,” is assigned to this security to ensure the efficient trading, settlement, and administration of their financial instruments within the Swiss and Liechtenstein financial markets.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

What is a Valoren Number?
A Valoren number, also known as a Valoren code, is a unique identification number that is assigned to a specific financial instrument such as stocks, bonds, or options. It is mainly used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein as a means of identifying and categorizing financial securities.
What is the purpose of Valoren Numbers?
The main purpose of Valoren numbers is to provide a standardized and universally recognized identifier for financial instruments. This ensures efficient and accurate trading, clearing, settlement, and management of securities, reducing confusion and the risk of errors during transactions.
How is a Valoren Number structured?
A Valoren number consists of six digits. The first digit represents the industry or sector, the following four digits represent the specific instrument, and the last digit is a check digit for validating the entire number.
Who assigns Valoren Numbers?
Valoren numbers are assigned and managed by SIX Financial Information, a subsidiary of the Swiss stock exchange operator SIX Group AG. SIX Financial Information serves as the central administrator for securities identification in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
How can I find the Valoren Number for a specific financial instrument?
Valoren numbers can be found through various financial platforms or data vendors, such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or the provider’s website. Alternatively, you can obtain Valoren numbers directly from the SIX Financial Information database by subscribing to their products and services.
Can Valoren Numbers be used for international transactions?
While Valoren numbers are mainly used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, they can be used for cross-border transactions if the trading partners agree to use this identifier. However, it is more common for international securities transactions to use other global identifiers, such as CUSIP numbers (used in the United States and Canada) or ISIN numbers (used internationally).
What is the difference between a Valoren Number and an ISIN?
A Valoren number is a six-digit identifier specific to financial instruments in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. An International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) is a 12-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a financial security globally. While Valoren numbers are used mainly within the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets, ISIN codes are used for cross-border transactions and international securities identification.

Related Finance Terms

Sources for More Information


About Our Editorial Process

At Due, we are dedicated to providing simple money and retirement advice that can make a big impact in your life. Our team closely follows market shifts and deeply understands how to build REAL wealth. All of our articles undergo thorough editing and review by financial experts, ensuring you get reliable and credible money advice.

We partner with leading publications, such as Nasdaq, The Globe and Mail, Entrepreneur, and more, to provide insights on retirement, current markets, and more.

We also host a financial glossary of over 7000 money/investing terms to help you learn more about how to take control of your finances.

View our editorial process

About Our Journalists

Our journalists are not just trusted, certified financial advisers. They are experienced and leading influencers in the financial realm, trusted by millions to provide advice about money. We handpick the best of the best, so you get advice from real experts. Our goal is to educate and inform, NOT to be a ‘stock-picker’ or ‘market-caller.’ 

Why listen to what we have to say?

While Due does not know how to predict the market in the short-term, our team of experts DOES know how you can make smart financial decisions to plan for retirement in the long-term.

View our expert review board

About Due

Due makes it easier to retire on your terms. We give you a realistic view on exactly where you’re at financially so when you retire you know how much money you’ll get each month. Get started today.

Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes

To ensure we’re putting out the highest content standards, we sought out the help of certified financial experts and accredited individuals to verify our advice. We also rely on them for the most up to date information and data to make sure our in-depth research has the facts right, for today… Not yesterday. Our financial expert review board allows our readers to not only trust the information they are reading but to act on it as well. Most of our authors are CFP (Certified Financial Planners) or CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certified and all have college degrees. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice and take the correct steps towards financial freedom and knowing exactly where you stand today. Learn everything about our top-notch financial expert reviews below… Learn More