Shareholder
Candlefocus EditorShareholders typically purchase stock from a publicly-traded corporation on a stock exchange. When buying a share of a company, the purchaser pays a predetermined market price at the time of purchase. When selling, the share price is determined by the demand for the shares as a function of the company’s performance.
In addition to capital gains and dividend payments, certain shareholders can also benefit from certain rights inherent to their ownership of the company. Shareholders can enjoy voting rights on corporate decisions, such as voting on the composition of the board of directors or on mergers or acquisitions. It is important to note that these voting rights are typically proportional to the amount of shares an individual holds.
Shareholders are also the primary beneficiaries of corporate bankruptcy proceedings. In the case of insolvency, creditors have first rights to the company’s assets and liabilities, but shareholders can still recoup some of their original investments in the form of residual payment.
In short, a shareholder is an individual or institution that holds an interest in the success of a company and can enjoy certain benefits including capital gains, dividends, and voting rights therein. Despite these potential upside benefits, shareholders may also face downside risk as they can lose up to their entire investment in a worst-case scenario. As a result, shareholders should consider investing thoughtful and actively monitor a company’s performance in order to optimize the return on their investments.