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What Are Shares & Types of Shares?

Personal Finance
08-11-2023
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Shares are a type of security representing a corporation’s ownership interest. There are different types of shares, and each has its own rights and privileges, which you can buy and sell in the share market. This blog post will explore the different types of shares and what they mean for shareholders. We’ll also look at the benefits and drawbacks of owning shares in a company. Read on.

What are shares?

Shares, also known as equities, refer to the ownership certificates of a company. They represent a claim on the company’s assets and earnings. Shares are bought and sold in stock markets. The price of a share is determined by supply and demand for that particular stock. The stock price will go up if there is more demand than supply. If there is more supply than demand, the price will go down.

Types of shares

There are two types of shares: common stock and preferred stock. Common stock represents the residual ownership that shareholders have in a company after debts and liabilities have been paid. Preferred stock, on the other hand, is a type of stock that gives shareholders preferential treatment in terms of dividends and asset liquidation. 

Preferred shareholders do not have voting rights but may have some say in major corporate decisions. For example, preferred shareholders may be able to vote on the election of directors or changes to the company’s charter. 

Common shares are more likely to be traded on public exchanges, while preferred shares are often privately held. Public companies usually have both common and preferred shares outstanding, while private companies generally just have common shares. 

Both common and preferred shares give the holder a portion of the ownership in a company, but the rights and privileges associated with each type of share are different. Understanding the difference between common and preferred shares is important before investing in either type of security.

How do stock markets work?

The stock market is a collection of buyers and sellers. When you buy stock, you become a partial owner of the company that issued it. You can sell that stock at any time, hopefully for a profit.

Companies issue stocks to raise money to grow and expand their businesses. By selling their stocks, companies can get the cash they need to invest in new products, hire new employees, etc.

Investors buy stocks with the hope that they will go up in value so that they can sell them at a later date for a profit. Of course, stock prices can also go down, resulting in a loss for the investor.

The stock market is where investors go to buy and sell stocks. It’s important to remember that the stock market is not a physical place but a collection of markets where stocks and other securities are traded.

You’re dealing with a broker when you buy or sell a stock. A broker is a person or firm that buys and sells securities on behalf of investors. When you open an account with a broker, you give that broker permission to buy and sell securities on your behalf.

What are the benefits of owning shares?

  • Shareholders have a say in how the company is run.
  • They may be entitled to a share of the company’s profits.
  • They may receive special discounts or other perks from the company.
  • They can sell their shares if they wish to do so.
  • There are also some risks associated with owning shares, such as:
  • Shareholders’ value can go up and down, so shareholders could lose money.
  • If the company goes bankrupt, shareholders may not get all their money back.

How to buy and sell shares?

There are two main ways to buy and sell shares: through a broker or directly on the stock market.

If you use a broker, they will charge you a commission for each trade. The commission size will depend on the broker and the type of trade you want to make. For example, if you’re buying shares of a listed company, you’ll usually have to pay a commission of 0.5% of the value of the shares. If you’re selling shares, you may also have to pay a ‘stamp duty’ tax of 0.5% on the value of the shares.

The other way to buy and sell shares is directly on the stock market without a broker. The main advantage of this is that you don’t have to pay any commissions or stamp duty taxes.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling shares, it’s important to get advice from a financial advisor first. They’ll be able to help you understand the risks involved and make sure you’re doing it in a way that’s right for you.

Things to consider before buying shares

When you’re buying shares, you need to consider a few key things first.

1. What is your investment goal? Are you looking to make a quick profit, or are you planning to hold the shares long-term?

2. What is your risk tolerance? Are you comfortable with a higher-risk investment, or do you prefer a more stable option?

3. What is the financial health of the company you’re considering investing in? You can research this by looking at the company’s financial statements and other public companies in higher-risk

4. What are the current market conditions? Is it a buyers’ market or a sellers’ market? This will influence how easy it is to buy and sell shares, as well as the price you can expect to receive.

5. What are the fees associated with buying and selling shares? Sure, you’re aware of all the costs involved, so there are no surprises down the road.

You’ll be in a much better position to make a sound investment decision by taking the time to answer these questions.

Conclusion 

When entering the share market you need to have a fox’s mind. Invest your money in the right places and you can double it but if you invest wrong you can lose it all. Invest your hard-earned money wisely. You can also have a word with our advisors. 

Piramal Finance is a great platform for all your financial needs. Do take the time to check it out!

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