Stocks
Stocks, in the financial context, represent a form of participation or ownership in a company. When a company decides to finance itself by issuing a stock, it is offering the public the chance to buy a share in the company.
Shares represent a fraction of a company’s share capital, so the holder:
- Has the right to participate in company decisions
- Benefits directly from the company’s profits through the distribution of proportional dividends and through the appreciation of shares
- Shares the financial risk of the company. If the company suffers losses, the value of the shares may decrease