Stock, also called equity or shares, is a type of investment that allows investors to purchase a fractional ownership stake in a publicly traded company. Investing in stocks is an option that can help an investor build wealth over time, because they tend to have higher average return rates than many other kinds of assets.

Buying and selling stocks is based on expectations of corporate earnings or profits, which drives the prices of stocks in general. A stock’s price is influenced by several factors, including investor and consumer confidence, government policies, interest rate changes, technology, the economy, inflation and changes in supply and demand.

The price of a stock depends on the amount of demand for it, the amount of supply, and the level of investor emotion. A stock’s price can rise when investors are enthusiastic about a company’s long-term prospects and see high value in its earnings or future growth projections, or it can fall when investors sour on a company and want to sell their stock in bulk.

A share is the unit of a company’s stock, and each share you own represents a proportional claim on the company’s net assets and future earnings. As a stock owner, you gain shareholder voting rights, and can earn dividend payments when the company distributes its earnings to shareholders.

Companies issue stock to raise capital and increase their liquidity on the stock market. The shares are usually available to the public through an initial public offering (IPO), which often attracts a lot of media attention.

Some common types of stock include common and preferred stocks, each granting different rights and benefits. Preferred stock, for example, does not give you voting rights, but it entitles you to receive dividend payments before common stockholders and is less risky than owning common stock in case the company goes bankrupt.

Common stock is the most commonly held type of stock, and it comes with voting rights. Dividends can also be received by shareholders, and they generally provide a higher overall return on the money invested in a stock than investing in another kind of asset, such as bonds.

Valuing a stock is one of the most important skills an investor can develop. It allows you to determine whether a stock is undervalued, overvalued or trading at a fair market price.

Understanding how a stock is valued helps you avoid losing your investment or getting a poor return on your investment. It is a critical skill that you can use to help make informed decisions about whether to buy, hold or sell a stock.

A stock’s valuation can be determined by evaluating its price change over time, as well as comparing it to other similar stocks in the same industry or geographical region. It can be used to determine whether the stock is undervalued or overvalued, and to decide if it is worth your time and effort to invest in it.