Stock Certificate . A document reflecting legal ownership of a specific number of stock shares in a corporation. Stock Fund . A fund that seeks a favorable rate of return through investments in the stocks of various companies. The owner of one or more shares of corporate stock.
Common stockholders have claims subordinate to preferred stockholders.
Stock Purchase Plan . A corporation's program that allows its employees to purchase shares of stock. Stock Split . An increase in the number of shares in a corporation without changing the number of stockholders that is designed to make the stock more marketable. Under a reverse stock split, one new share of stock is exchanged for two or more old shares.