What Is Stockholder

Introduction

A company should have funds in hand to grow or expand their operations. Some of the common ways to generate funds is through an IPO, issuing stocks or bonds or debentures, etc. The promoter of the firm makes these choices.

Thus, stocks or debentures are ownership interests in the corporation. The stockholders are those who have paid for or subscribed to these stocks. Likewise, those receiving debentures are debenture holders.

What/Who is a Stockholder?

If you have bought one or more stocks of a company, you are termed as a stockholder of that respective company. Though this term is interchangeably used as shareholder, there’s a subtle difference between the two.

Stockholder can hold anything like stocks or inventory or shares of a company. Shareholders strictly own shares of the company and are part owners to the extent of the share value.

For example, a common stockholder is someone who owns stocks of common stock in a firm. The common investors choose the corporation's board of directors and have a say in some decisions like corporate mergers.

Typically, this kind of ownership enables them to profit from a company's success. However, as a result of being seen as distinct from the corporation, an investor is only partially liable for its debts. They receive benefits in the form of rising stock prices or dividend payments from financial gains.

In contrast, when a corporation experiences a loss, the share price inevitably falls, resulting in financial losses for owners or portfolio reductions.

Role of Stockholders

There are other obligations that come with being a stockholder in addition to collecting income. Let's examine a few of these obligations.

• Analysing and selecting the authority they would provide the board of directors, such as the right to appoint and dismiss them from their positions

• Deciding on matters over which the directors have no control, such as amending the corporation’s bylaws of the corporation.

• Examining and approving the company's financial accounts.

Types of Stockholders

Common Stockholders

Common stock is a type of investment that denotes ownership in a company. The board of directors and corporate policies are chosen by common stockholders. Long term, this type of stock ownership often produce great returns.

The General Ledger (GL) account created when a company issues new common stock. The organisation's balance sheet will show the amount of Common Stock as a part of Paid-In Capital, which is a part of Stockholders' Equity.

Preferred Stockholders

Preferred stockholders, who possess a stock of the company's preferred stock, are relatively uncommon. Unlike common stockholders, they have no voting rights or influence over business decisions.

Instead, they are qualified for a set yearly dividend that they will receive from the company before the common stockholders receive their portion. This aspect is because dividends have a preferred structuring.

Difference Between Common and Preferred Stockholders

Criterion	Common Stockholders	Preferred Stockholders
Voting rights	Common stockholders have the opportunity to vote on executive actions that have an impact on the business' operations.	Preferred stockholders are not allowed to vote on corporate issues.
Procedure during insolvency	Common stockholders risk losing their whole investment if a company declares bankruptcy and faces a significant financial obligation.	In the case of insolvency, preferred stockholders have the right to claim the company's assets.
Distribution of dividends	Common stockholders get dividends from business earnings.	Preferred stockholders get dividends at a higher rate than regular stockholders.

Agreement of Stockholders

A stockholder’s agreement may strengthen the minority stockholder rights, provided that a majority of the corporation’s stockholders agree to it. This kind of agreement also controls how the firm operates.

Stockholders significantly affect a company's overall performance and profitability since they have authority over the bulk of its operations. Because they may cover several situations, companies widely use stockholders' agreements to protect stockholders.

Importance of Stockholders

• Financing a Company: Stockholders provide capital to firms in exchange for ownership rights. Another way for start-ups and private companies to raise money is through private placements to certain institutions and individuals.

• Business Operations: While hiring senior office staff directly impacts a company's operations, investors also have an indirect impact.

• Governing a Company: Board members of publicly traded companies are liable to keep stockholders up-to-date on the business's financial health and activities.

Rights of Stockholders

The law entitles stockholders to a few rights that are defined as follows −

• Stockholders can audit a company's financial records.

• They can sue the members and officers of the board if they breach any law.

• They have a voice in the form of a vote on major issues the corporation faces.

• They can receive the dividend that the corporation declares.

• They can also attend the meetings of the company every year.

• If the company liquidates its assets, they receive a proportionate share of the proceeds.

The governed policy in every company clearly defines common and preferred stockholders' rights. It assigns all these rights to both groups of stockholders.

Conclusion

A stockholder is a person who owns stocks of a firm. They either represent ownership rights in the company or give them priority over equity stockholders at the time of profit distributions (preferred stockholders). In addition to having specific rights, stockholders indirectly contribute significantly to the company's business activities.

FAQs

Q1. How to find a stockholder?

Ans. A person with common stock in a company is referred to as a common stockholder. Common stockholders elect the board of directors for the business and can also weigh in on matters like corporate mergers. Typically, ordinary investors reap financial rewards when a firm is more successful.

Q2. What are stakeholders and stockholders?

Ans. A stakeholder has an interest in a firm's performance for reasons other than stock performance or appreciation. In contrast, a stockholder owns a portion of a publicly traded corporation through shares or stock. These factors frequently indicate that the stockholder has a stronger desire for the business to prosper in the long run.

Q3. What function does a stockholder perform?

Ans. As part of their firm ownership, stockholders are entitled to many privileges. These privileges include voting rights over who sits on the board of directors and dividend payments. Stockholders can even claim a piece of any remaining assets in the event of a corporate liquidation.

Q4. What is Friedman's shareholder theory?

Ans. The shareholder theory is a normative theory of business ethics by economist Milton Friedman. It asserts that a company's social obligation is to enhance its profits.

Q5. What do you mean by Common Stock Outstanding?

One can calculate the amount of outstanding common stock by subtracting any stocks of common stock designated as treasury stock from the total number of stocks of common stock issued. The stockholders' equity portion of the balance sheet contains information about the number of outstanding shares of common stock.