feat: company names for tickers (Alpaca backfill + subtle display)

Store an optional company name on Ticker (migration 014) and backfill it from
Alpaca's asset list in a single Trading-API call for the whole universe — no
per-ticker fetch. Runs automatically at the end of universe bootstrap and via a
manual "Backfill Names" button (admin) / POST /admin/tickers/backfill-names.

The name ships on /tickers; a shared symbol→name map (useTickerNames) lets any view
show it without its own request. Displayed subtly next to the symbol — in the global
search, the ticker header, and as a small muted line under the symbol in Top Setups
and Open Trades (no extra column, truncated so it never widens the table).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

alembic/versions/014_add_ticker_name.py

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+"""add name to tickers
+
+Company name (e.g. "Biogen Inc."), backfilled from Alpaca so the UI can show which
+company is behind a symbol. Nullable — symbols Alpaca doesn't cover stay name-less.
+
+Revision ID: 014
+Revises: 013
+Create Date: 2026-07-01 00:00:00.000000
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "014"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "013"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column("tickers", sa.Column("name", sa.String(length=120), nullable=True))
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_column("tickers", "name")

app/models/ticker.py

@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ class Ticker(Base):
 
     id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(primary_key=True)
     symbol: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(10), unique=True, nullable=False)
+    # Company name (e.g. "Biogen Inc."); backfilled from Alpaca, nullable for
+    # symbols Alpaca doesn't know.
+    name: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String(120), nullable=True)
     created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
         DateTime(timezone=True), default=datetime.utcnow, nullable=False
     )

app/routers/admin.py

@@ -315,6 +315,16 @@ async def bootstrap_tickers(
     return APIEnvelope(status="success", data=result)
 
 
+@router.post("/admin/tickers/backfill-names", response_model=APIEnvelope)
+async def backfill_ticker_names(
+    _admin: User = Depends(require_admin),
+    db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db),
+):
+    """Fill in company names for tracked tickers (one Alpaca call)."""
+    result = await ticker_universe_service.backfill_ticker_names(db)
+    return APIEnvelope(status="success", data=result)
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Data cleanup
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

app/schemas/ticker.py

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class TickerCreate(BaseModel):
 class TickerResponse(BaseModel):
     id: int
     symbol: str
+    name: str | None = None
     created_at: datetime
 
     model_config = {"from_attributes": True}

app/services/ticker_universe_service.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ well-known universes (S&P 500, NASDAQ-100, NASDAQ All).
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -357,6 +358,55 @@ async def fetch_universe_symbols(db: AsyncSession, universe: str) -> list[str]:
     raise ProviderError(f"Universe '{normalised_universe}' returned no valid symbols. Attempts: {reason}")
 
 
+async def _fetch_alpaca_asset_names() -> dict[str, str]:
+    """One Alpaca Trading-API call → {internal_symbol: company_name} for all US
+    equities. Tries paper and live endpoints so it works with either key type."""
+    if not settings.alpaca_api_key or not settings.alpaca_api_secret:
+        raise ValidationError("Alpaca API credentials are required to backfill names")
+
+    from alpaca.trading.client import TradingClient
+    from alpaca.trading.enums import AssetClass, AssetStatus
+    from alpaca.trading.requests import GetAssetsRequest
+
+    req = GetAssetsRequest(status=AssetStatus.ACTIVE, asset_class=AssetClass.US_EQUITY)
+    last_err: Exception | None = None
+    for paper in (True, False):
+        try:
+            client = TradingClient(settings.alpaca_api_key, settings.alpaca_api_secret, paper=paper)
+            assets = await asyncio.to_thread(client.get_all_assets, req)
+            names: dict[str, str] = {}
+            for asset in assets:
+                sym = getattr(asset, "symbol", None)
+                nm = getattr(asset, "name", None)
+                if sym and nm:
+                    names[sym.replace(".", "-").upper()] = nm  # BRK.B → BRK-B
+            if names:
+                return names
+        except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001 — try the other endpoint
+            last_err = exc
+
+    raise ProviderError(f"Failed to fetch asset names from Alpaca: {last_err}")
+
+
+async def backfill_ticker_names(db: AsyncSession, *, only_missing: bool = True) -> dict[str, int]:
+    """Fill Ticker.name from Alpaca in a single request for the whole universe."""
+    result = await db.execute(select(Ticker))
+    tickers = list(result.scalars().all())
+    targets = [t for t in tickers if not t.name] if only_missing else tickers
+    if not targets:
+        return {"updated": 0, "checked": 0, "unmatched": 0}
+
+    names = await _fetch_alpaca_asset_names()
+    updated = 0
+    for ticker in targets:
+        nm = names.get(ticker.symbol.upper())
+        if nm and nm != ticker.name:
+            ticker.name = nm[:120]
+            updated += 1
+    await db.commit()
+    return {"updated": updated, "checked": len(targets), "unmatched": len(targets) - updated}
+
+
 async def bootstrap_universe(
     db: AsyncSession,
     universe: str,
@@ -387,6 +437,13 @@ async def bootstrap_universe(
 
     await db.commit()
 
+    # Best-effort: fill company names for any tickers still missing one. Never let
+    # a name-fetch hiccup fail the bootstrap itself.
+    try:
+        await backfill_ticker_names(db, only_missing=True)
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
+        logger.warning("Ticker name backfill failed during bootstrap", exc_info=True)
+
     return {
         "universe": normalised_universe,
         "total_universe_symbols": len(symbols),

frontend/src/api/admin.ts

@@ -171,6 +171,12 @@ export function bootstrapTickers(universe: TickerUniverse, pruneMissing: boolean
     .then((r) => r.data);
 }
 
+export function backfillTickerNames() {
+  return apiClient
+    .post<{ updated: number; checked: number; unmatched: number }>('admin/tickers/backfill-names')
+    .then((r) => r.data);
+}
+
 // Jobs
 export interface JobStatus {
   name: string;

frontend/src/components/admin/TickerUniverseBootstrap.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import {
+  useBackfillTickerNames,
   useBootstrapTickers,
   useTickerUniverseSetting,
   useUpdateTickerUniverseSetting,
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ export function TickerUniverseBootstrap() {
   const { data, isLoading, isError, error } = useTickerUniverseSetting();
   const updateDefault = useUpdateTickerUniverseSetting();
   const bootstrap = useBootstrapTickers();
+  const backfillNames = useBackfillTickerNames();
 
   const [universe, setUniverse] = useState<TickerUniverse>('sp500');
   const [pruneMissing, setPruneMissing] = useState(false);
@@ -85,6 +87,14 @@ export function TickerUniverseBootstrap() {
         >
           {bootstrap.isPending ? 'Bootstrapping…' : 'Bootstrap Now'}
         </button>
+        <button
+          className="px-4 py-2 text-sm rounded border border-white/[0.1] text-gray-300 hover:text-white disabled:opacity-50"
+          onClick={() => backfillNames.mutate()}
+          disabled={backfillNames.isPending}
+          title="Fill in company names from Alpaca (one request for all tickers)"
+        >
+          {backfillNames.isPending ? 'Backfilling…' : 'Backfill Names'}
+        </button>
       </div>
     </div>
   );

frontend/src/components/dashboard/OpenTradesPanel.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useMemo } from 'react';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { usePaperTrades, useClosePaperTrade, useExitPolicy } from '../../hooks/usePaperTrades';
+import { useTickerNames } from '../../hooks/useTickers';
 import { tradePnl } from '../../lib/paperTrade';
 import { formatPrice } from '../../lib/format';
 import { Section } from '../ui/Section';
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ function pnlColor(v: number): string {
 export function OpenTradesPanel() {
   const { data: trades, isLoading } = usePaperTrades('open');
   const { data: policy } = useExitPolicy();
+  const tickerNames = useTickerNames();
   const close = useClosePaperTrade();
 
   const exitLabel = policy
@@ -84,6 +86,11 @@ export function OpenTradesPanel() {
                       <Link to={`/ticker/${t.symbol}`} className="font-medium text-blue-300 hover:text-blue-200">
                         {t.symbol}
                       </Link>
+                      {tickerNames.get(t.symbol.toUpperCase()) && (
+                        <div className="max-w-[150px] truncate text-[11px] text-gray-500">
+                          {tickerNames.get(t.symbol.toUpperCase())}
+                        </div>
+                      )}
                     </td>
                     <td className="px-4 py-3">
                       <span className={`num text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase ${t.direction === 'long' ? 'text-emerald-400' : 'text-red-400'}`}>

frontend/src/components/layout/TickerSearch.tsx

@@ -81,11 +81,12 @@ export default function TickerSearch({ onNavigate }: { onNavigate?: () => void }
                 type="button"
                 onMouseEnter={() => setActive(i)}
                 onClick={() => go(t.symbol)}
-                className={`flex w-full items-center px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-sm transition-colors ${
+                className={`flex w-full items-baseline gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-sm transition-colors ${
                   i === active ? 'bg-blue-400/[0.12] text-blue-200' : 'text-gray-300 hover:bg-white/[0.04]'
                 }`}
               >
-                {t.symbol}
+                <span className="font-medium">{t.symbol}</span>
+                {t.name && <span className="truncate text-xs text-gray-500">{t.name}</span>}
               </button>
             </li>
           ))}

frontend/src/hooks/useAdmin.ts

@@ -283,6 +283,22 @@ export function useBootstrapTickers() {
   });
 }
 
+export function useBackfillTickerNames() {
+  const qc = useQueryClient();
+  const { addToast } = useToast();
+
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: () => adminApi.backfillTickerNames(),
+    onSuccess: (result) => {
+      qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['tickers'] });
+      addToast('success', `Company names: +${result.updated} filled (${result.unmatched} unmatched)`);
+    },
+    onError: (error: Error) => {
+      addToast('error', error.message || 'Failed to backfill company names');
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 // ── Jobs ──
 
 export function useJobs() {

frontend/src/hooks/useTickers.ts

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { useMemo } from 'react';
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import * as tickersApi from '../api/tickers';
 import { useToast } from '../components/ui/Toast';
@@ -9,6 +10,19 @@ export function useTickers() {
   });
 }
 
+/** symbol (upper) → company name, from the tracked-ticker list. Shared lookup so
+ *  any view can show the company behind a symbol without its own request. */
+export function useTickerNames(): Map<string, string> {
+  const { data } = useTickers();
+  return useMemo(() => {
+    const map = new Map<string, string>();
+    for (const t of data ?? []) {
+      if (t.name) map.set(t.symbol.toUpperCase(), t.name);
+    }
+    return map;
+  }, [data]);
+}
+
 export function useAddTicker() {
   const qc = useQueryClient();
   const { addToast } = useToast();

frontend/src/lib/types.ts

@@ -532,6 +532,7 @@ export interface EMACrossResult {
 export interface Ticker {
   id: number;
   symbol: string;
+  name: string | null;
   created_at: string;
 }
 

frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useActivation } from '../hooks/useActivation';
 import { useTrades } from '../hooks/useTrades';
 import { useWatchlist } from '../hooks/useWatchlist';
 import { usePaperTrades } from '../hooks/usePaperTrades';
+import { useTickerNames } from '../hooks/useTickers';
 import { useMarketRegime } from '../hooks/useMarketRegime';
 import { regimeColor, regimeDot, regimeHeadline } from '../lib/regime';
 import { Callout } from '../components/ui/Callout';
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ function DirectionTag({ direction }: { direction: string }) {
 export default function DashboardPage() {
   const trades = useTrades();
   const watchlist = useWatchlist();
+  const tickerNames = useTickerNames();
   const activation = useActivation();
   const openTrades = usePaperTrades('open');
   const regime = useMarketRegime();
@@ -237,6 +239,11 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
                                 </span>
                               )}
                             </div>
+                            {tickerNames.get(setup.symbol.toUpperCase()) && (
+                              <div className="max-w-[160px] truncate text-[11px] text-gray-500">
+                                {tickerNames.get(setup.symbol.toUpperCase())}
+                              </div>
+                            )}
                           </td>
                           <td className="px-4 py-3"><DirectionTag direction={setup.direction} /></td>
                           <td className="num px-4 py-3 text-right text-gray-200">{formatPrice(setup.entry_price)}</td>

frontend/src/pages/TickerDetailPage.tsx

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { topPickSymbol, qualifiesSetup } from '../lib/qualification';
 import type { FetchSelector } from '../api/ingestion';
 import { CandlestickChart } from '../components/charts/CandlestickChart';
 import { ScoreCard } from '../components/ui/ScoreCard';
+import { useTickerNames } from '../hooks/useTickers';
 import { SkeletonCard } from '../components/ui/Skeleton';
 import { SentimentPanel } from '../components/ticker/SentimentPanel';
 import { FundamentalsPanel } from '../components/ticker/FundamentalsPanel';
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ function DataFreshnessBar({
 
 export default function TickerDetailPage() {
   const { symbol = '' } = useParams<{ symbol: string }>();
+  const companyName = useTickerNames().get(symbol.toUpperCase());
   const { ohlcv, scores, srLevels, sentiment, fundamentals, trades } = useTickerDetail(symbol);
   const ingestion = useFetchSymbolData();
   const watchlist = useWatchlist();
@@ -274,6 +276,9 @@ export default function TickerDetailPage() {
       <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-4">
         <div className="flex items-baseline gap-4">
           <h1 className="text-3xl font-semibold text-gray-100">{symbol.toUpperCase()}</h1>
+          {companyName && (
+            <span className="max-w-[240px] truncate text-sm text-gray-500">{companyName}</span>
+          )}
           {priceInfo && (
             <div className="flex items-baseline gap-2">
               <span className="num text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-100">{formatPrice(priceInfo.price)}</span>