In financial markets, a share (sometimes referred to as stock or equity) is a unit of equity ownership in the capital stock of a corporation. It can refer to units of mutual funds, limited partnerships, and real estate investment trusts.Share capital refers to all of the shares of an enterprise. The owner of shares in a company is a shareholder (or stockholder) of the corporation. A share expresses the ownership relationship between the company and the shareholder. The denominated value of a share is its face value, and the total of the face value of issued shares represent the capital of a company, which may not reflect the market value of those shares.
The income received from the ownership of shares is a dividend. There are different types of shares such as equity shares, preference shares, deferred shares, redeemable shares, bonus shares, right shares, and employee stock option plan shares.
Terminology
- Stock
- Equity
- Shares outstanding are shares that are authorized by the government, issued by the company, and held by third parties.
- Treasury shares are shares that are authorized, issued, and held by the company itself.
- Issued shares are the sum of shares outstanding and treasury shares.
- Shares authorized include both issued (by the board of directors or shareholders) and unissued but authorized by the company's constitutional documents.
Valuation
Shares are valued according to the various principles in different markets, but a basic premise is that a share is worth the price at which a transaction would be likely to occur were the shares to be sold. The liquidity of markets is a major consideration as to whether a share is able to be sold at any given time. An actual sale transaction of shares between buyer and seller is usually considered to provide the best prima facie market indicator as to the "true value" of shares at that particular time. A minority discount is usually applied when valuing a minority shareholding (less than 50%), where ownership of the shares offers limited control over the business if this is held by a majority shareholder.
Tax treatment
Tax treatment of dividends varies between tax jurisdictions. For instance, in India, dividends are tax free in the hands of the shareholder up to INR 1 million, but the company paying the dividend has to pay dividend distribution tax at 12.5%. There is also the concept of a deemed dividend, which is not tax free. Further, Indian tax laws include provisions to stop dividend stripping.[citation needed]
Share certificates
Historically, investors were given share certificates as evidence of their ownership of shares. In modern times, certificates are not always given and ownership may be recorded electronically by a system such as CREST or DTCC, a central securities depository.
Tracing shares
As of May 2022, the United States Supreme Court was considering the case of Slack Technologies, LLC v. Pirani, with regard to whether Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 require plaintiffs to plead and prove that they acquired shares of stock registered under and traceable to the registration statement they claim was misleading.
See also
- Employee stock ownership
- Mutual organization
- Scrip issue
- Share capital
- Social ownership
- Stock token
References
- Kvilhaug, Suzanne (20 October 2021). Scott, Gordon (ed.). "What Are Shares? Meaning and How They Compare to Stocks". Investopedia. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- Hoang, Paul (2007). "1.4 Stakeholders". Business and Management. Victoria: IBID Press. pp. 71. ISBN 978-1-876659-63-9.
- "Chapter 22 Company-An Introduction" (PDF). Accountancy. Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India: National Institute of Open Schooling. 2008. p. 242. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- "All about shares and tax". Rediff India Abroad. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- Eichenberger, Sarah; Zelichov, Richard H. (15 December 2022). "Supreme Court to Weigh in on Securities Act of 1933 Standing in Slack Technologies Direct Listing Appeal". Lexology. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.
- "MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AND BRIEF FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONERS" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. 3 October 2022.
External links
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Media related to Stocks at Wikimedia Commons![image]()
The dictionary definition of share at Wiktionary
In financial markets a share sometimes referred to as stock or equity is a unit of equity ownership in the capital stock of a corporation It can refer to units of mutual funds limited partnerships and real estate investment trusts Share capital refers to all of the shares of an enterprise The owner of shares in a company is a shareholder or stockholder of the corporation A share expresses the ownership relationship between the company and the shareholder The denominated value of a share is its face value and the total of the face value of issued shares represent the capital of a company which may not reflect the market value of those shares A share certificate from 1936 entitling the holder to shares in Greyhound Lines The income received from the ownership of shares is a dividend There are different types of shares such as equity shares preference shares deferred shares redeemable shares bonus shares right shares and employee stock option plan shares TerminologyStock Equity Shares outstanding are shares that are authorized by the government issued by the company and held by third parties Treasury shares are shares that are authorized issued and held by the company itself Issued shares are the sum of shares outstanding and treasury shares Shares authorized include both issued by the board of directors or shareholders and unissued but authorized by the company s constitutional documents ValuationShares are valued according to the various principles in different markets but a basic premise is that a share is worth the price at which a transaction would be likely to occur were the shares to be sold The liquidity of markets is a major consideration as to whether a share is able to be sold at any given time An actual sale transaction of shares between buyer and seller is usually considered to provide the best prima facie market indicator as to the true value of shares at that particular time A minority discount is usually applied when valuing a minority shareholding less than 50 where ownership of the shares offers limited control over the business if this is held by a majority shareholder Tax treatmentTax treatment of dividends varies between tax jurisdictions For instance in India dividends are tax free in the hands of the shareholder up to INR 1 million but the company paying the dividend has to pay dividend distribution tax at 12 5 There is also the concept of a deemed dividend which is not tax free Further Indian tax laws include provisions to stop dividend stripping citation needed Share certificatesHistorically investors were given share certificates as evidence of their ownership of shares In modern times certificates are not always given and ownership may be recorded electronically by a system such as CREST or DTCC a central securities depository Tracing sharesAs of May 2022 the United States Supreme Court was considering the case of Slack Technologies LLC v Pirani with regard to whether Sections 11 and 12 a 2 of the Securities Act of 1933 require plaintiffs to plead and prove that they acquired shares of stock registered under and traceable to the registration statement they claim was misleading See alsoEmployee stock ownership Mutual organization Scrip issue Share capital Social ownership Stock tokenReferencesKvilhaug Suzanne 20 October 2021 Scott Gordon ed What Are Shares Meaning and How They Compare to Stocks Investopedia Retrieved 19 November 2022 Hoang Paul 2007 1 4 Stakeholders Business and Management Victoria IBID Press pp 71 ISBN 978 1 876659 63 9 Chapter 22 Company An Introduction PDF Accountancy Noida Uttar Pradesh India National Institute of Open Schooling 2008 p 242 Retrieved 24 August 2011 All about shares and tax Rediff India Abroad 16 January 2006 Retrieved 23 February 2012 Eichenberger Sarah Zelichov Richard H 15 December 2022 Supreme Court to Weigh in on Securities Act of 1933 Standing in Slack Technologies Direct Listing Appeal Lexology Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AND BRIEF FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONERS PDF Supreme Court of the United States 3 October 2022 External linksMedia related to Stocks at Wikimedia Commons The dictionary definition of share at Wiktionary
