What is stock? Stock is the ownership interest in a company. A company issues stock to raise capital, grow, or launch new projects. Shareholders can purchase shares directly from a company when it issues them or from another shareholder on a secondary market. But not all stock is created equal. Some have enhanced voting rights while others do not. There is also a difference in the way profits and liquidation proceeds are allocated. Learn about these differences in stock to decide whether it is right for you.

Stocks are often classified by size of company, which is reflected in the market capitalization. Smaller companies are known as microcap stocks. Penny stocks are very low-priced and often have little or no earnings. They also do not pay dividends, and they are generally speculative. But the more information you have, the better off you will be. You can choose stocks based on their potential for growth over the long term.

Dividends are another way to evaluate stocks. Some companies pay dividends that are equal to the value of their shares. For example, a stock that pays a dividend of $0.50 per share earns $50 per year. So, a $30 stock that’s worth $3,000 yields a 1.7% dividend. These dividends are a great way to generate income without selling your shares. That’s why many retirees prefer dividend-paying stocks.

To trade stocks, investors need a broker. A broker is an entity licensed to trade stocks on a stock exchange. The broker may be an actual person or an online brokerage firm. Online brokers can make the transaction electronically. They’ll help you find a suitable stock. It’s important to understand the difference between a float and a bid. If they’re not, you may end up losing money. This happens all the time.

While stocks represent a claim on a company’s assets and earnings, they don’t actually own the company. In fact, you own a share of the corporation and don’t own the company. Despite its name, corporations are legal entities. They can own property, file taxes, borrow money, and be sued. So, it’s not surprising that many people invest in stock. Then again, stock investments can be extremely profitable for you.

A company may split its stock in order to make it more affordable for its shareholders. While stock splits are neither good nor bad in the long run, they can make a stock more desirable to investors. While they can cause some investor distress, they usually have a short-term effect. If the price of a stock drops, the seller gets the money and receives all of the earnings. Therefore, if you want to make money from your stock, be sure to keep track of it.