function checkForAndAlertInvalidTicker(ticker) {
  ticker = ticker.replace(/^ */, "");
  ticker = ticker.replace(/ *$/, "");
  ticker = ticker.toUpperCase();

  if (ticker.length == 0 || ticker.match(/[^a-zA-Z+.]/) || ticker.length > 6) {
    alert('Invalid Ticker.');
    return false;
  }

  return ticker;
}