Why a Company May Choose to Issue a Tracking Stock

Essentially a tracking stock is nothing more than a stock that the company who issues it HOPES will be viewed by the market as its own company to command its own valuation. Unlike a full spin-off to investors, the company which is being ‘tracked’ is oftentimes controlled by the mother company’s board and senior management, and is 100% owned by the mother unless a portion was sold to the public in an IPO.