First identify the exact index series: “FTSE” does not describe one universal eligibility test. FTSE Global Equity Index Series (GEIS), FTSE UK and Russell US use different rules. Then check the company’s country assignment and security type, listing venue, free float and voting rights, liquidity, investable market capitalisation and the applicable review date. Passing those tests does not necessarily mean a stock will be selected: ranking, index size bands and buffer rules also shape membership.
Start with the exact index and current rulebook
Before looking up a ticker, write down the index name and, if relevant, the intended segment. A “FTSE index” might mean a global, UK or US index family, each with its own universe and methodology. A threshold from one family cannot be assumed to apply to another.
Use the latest ground rules for the review you are assessing, and note their version and date. As of October 2026, the relevant documents identified here are the September 2026 FTSE GEIS Ground Rules, version 14.4; the August 2026 Russell US ground rules, version 7.2; and the FTSE UK change effective from the June 2026 review. The FTSE Russell ground rules for the chosen series control the complete test.
Run the eligibility check in order
- Fix the index and review cycle. Record the index series, the review or rank date, and the ground-rules version. If you do not know these, you cannot reliably interpret a threshold.
- Identify the relevant security line. Check the issuer’s assigned country, exchange or listing venue, and security type against that series’ rules. Where a company has multiple equity lines, do not assume all lines receive the same treatment; the methodology may assess them separately. Check how the chosen series treats depositary receipts as well.
- Calculate investable ownership. Look beyond shares outstanding and a headline public-float figure. The index provider may adjust for restricted holdings, foreign ownership limits and available foreign-ownership headroom. Check any separate voting-rights test using the methodology’s definition of unrestricted ownership.
- Test liquidity and trading history. Apply the stated liquidity measure, observation window, trading-history requirement and cut-off date. A recent volume figure or a count of trading days may not reproduce the provider’s test.
- Check market capitalisation and size rules. Determine whether the rule uses total or investable market capitalisation, then compare the correct measure with the threshold for the relevant region, date and index segment. Account for ranking, size bands, buffers and any fast-entry provision.
- Confirm the review outcome using official materials. For a consequential decision, compare your calculation with the provider’s review materials and current ground rules. A third-party screener can help find candidates, but its result is not a substitute for the index provider’s rules or review determination.
How the rules differ across three index families
The figures below are examples of series-specific rules, not a universal FTSE checklist. Apply them only to the named family and the stated version or review context.
#1 Best Overall
| Index family and source | Ownership and eligibility points | Size, liquidity and timing |
|---|---|---|
| FTSE GEIS September 2026 Ground Rules, v14.4 |
Constituents are adjusted for free float and foreign ownership restrictions. Securities with free float of 5% or less are generally excluded, except where investable market capitalisation exceeds ten times the relevant regional inclusion percentage level. Developed-market securities generally need more than 5% of company voting rights in unrestricted hands; emerging-market securities are exempt from this particular voting-rights requirement. | Liquidity, trading history, security eligibility and surveillance status are among the other screens. Regional universes are reviewed semi-annually in March and September, using data from the last business day in December and June, respectively. Size-segment buffer zones are used to reduce turnover. Regional thresholds depend on the methodology and can change. |
| FTSE UK Index Series Change effective from the June 2026 review |
UK- and non-UK-incorporated companies need at least 10% free float for inclusion, subject to all other criteria. This replaced the former 25% minimum for non-UK-incorporated companies. | Other applicable criteria and review mechanics still matter; the free-float rule alone does not establish eligibility or membership. The GEIS rule should not be substituted for this UK-series requirement. |
| Russell US indexes FTSE Russell explainer and August 2026 ground rules, v7.2 |
The explainer lists eligible exchanges, company and share-type exclusions, at least 5% free float, and at least 5% of voting rights in unrestricted hands. | The explainer lists a minimum US$1.00 closing share price and US$30 million total market capitalisation, both measured on rank day; for existing members it describes using a 30-day average price to reduce turnover. The 2026 ground rules specify US$175,000 global median average daily dollar trading value for the stated 2026 rank date and an additional share-class liquidity test. Treat that liquidity figure as a date-specific Russell US rule, not a general or timeless minimum. |
Why a passing screen is not a membership guarantee
Eligibility and selection are different questions. An issuer can satisfy minimum screens and still not enter the segment an investor has in mind. Index construction ranks eligible securities and assigns them according to the series’ size bands, buffers and other rules. Review timing also matters: company data measured after a cut-off may not affect the review currently under way.
Total market capitalisation is not interchangeable with investable market capitalisation. Free-float adjustments and foreign ownership restrictions can reduce the amount of a company counted as available to index investors. That is why checking a stock’s headline size alone can produce the wrong conclusion.
Rank #2
- Comes with secure packaging
- Easy to read text
- It can be a gift option
What to verify for a named stock
For an individual ticker, assemble a dated record rather than relying on a bare “eligible” label:
- The exact index series and segment under consideration.
- The current ground-rules version and next relevant review or rank date.
- The issuer’s country assignment, listing venue and specific equity line.
- Current free-float information, restricted ownership and foreign ownership limits or headroom.
- Voting-rights information where the series requires it.
- The provider-defined liquidity and trading-history measures for the applicable window.
- The relevant total or investable market-cap figure, calculated using the rulebook’s definitions.
- Any ranking, buffer, size-band or fast-entry provisions that affect the outcome.
FTSE Russell says its Monitor Lists and Enhanced Indicative Review Files can provide eligibility data, thresholds and explanations of proposed index changes. They are useful for investigating a review outcome, but the applicable ground rules remain the basis for interpreting the data. If a company has multiple equity lines, an unusual ownership structure or a disputed country assignment, avoid treating a general screener result as definitive.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
