Stocks

Definition

Stocks, also known as equities, represent ownership shares in a publicly traded company. They are financial instruments that allow individuals and institutions to invest in and own a portion of a business, with the potential to generate returns through capital appreciation and dividend payments.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Stocks are traded on stock exchanges, where buyers and sellers come together to determine the price of a company's shares based on supply and demand.
2. Investors can earn returns on stocks through capital appreciation, where the stock price increases, and/or through dividend payments made by the company to its shareholders.
3. The risk and potential return associated with stocks can vary widely, depending on factors such as the company's financial performance, industry, and overall market conditions.
4. Diversification, or investing in a variety of stocks across different sectors and industries, can help mitigate the risk associated with individual stock investments.
5. Stocks are a key component of household financial portfolios, as they provide a means for individuals to participate in the growth and profitability of publicly traded companies.

Review Questions

• Explain how stocks allow households to supply financial capital to the economy.
  • Stocks enable households to supply financial capital to the economy by allowing them to invest in and own a portion of publicly traded companies. When households purchase stocks, they are providing those companies with the financial resources needed to fund their operations, expand their business, and generate returns. This investment of household savings into the stock market channels financial capital to productive uses within the economy, supporting economic growth and development.
• Describe the role of stock exchanges in the allocation of financial capital.
  • Stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, play a crucial role in the allocation of financial capital by facilitating the trading of stocks. These exchanges provide a centralized marketplace where buyers and sellers can come together to determine the prices of publicly traded companies' shares. This price discovery process helps to allocate financial capital to the most promising and productive companies, as investors seek to invest in firms with strong growth potential and financial performance. The efficient functioning of stock exchanges is essential for the effective allocation of household savings and other financial resources within the economy.
• Analyze how the risk and return characteristics of stocks influence households' decisions to supply financial capital.
  • The risk and return characteristics of stocks are key factors that influence households' decisions to supply financial capital through stock investments. Households must weigh the potential for capital appreciation and dividend payments (returns) against the inherent volatility and uncertainty associated with stock investments (risk). Households with a higher risk tolerance may be more inclined to invest in stocks, as they seek the opportunity for higher returns, while more risk-averse households may prefer less volatile assets, such as bonds or savings accounts. The portfolio diversification strategies employed by households also reflect their assessment of the risk-return tradeoffs involved in stock investments and their overall financial goals and risk preferences.

Related terms

Equity:

Equity refers to the ownership interest in a company, represented by the value of its outstanding shares.

Dividend: A dividend is a distribution of a portion of a company's earnings, paid to its shareholders, usually on a quarterly basis.

Capital Appreciation: Capital appreciation is the increase in the market value of a stock, which can lead to gains for the investor when the stock is sold.