long position investment & finance definition

The net ownership position in a particular security. If an investor owns 500 shares of Wal-Mart common stock, that person is said to be long 500 shares of Wal-Mart. Likewise, the more unusual situation of owning 1,000 shares of a particular stock at a time when 300 shares of the same stock have been sold short produces a long position of 700 shares. Being long indicates an expectation of rising share prices. Also called long. Compare short position 1.