People who own stock are called stockholders, or shareholders. Stockholders hope the company will earn money as it grows. If a company earns money, the stockholders share the profits. Over time, people usually earn more from owning stock than from leaving money in the bank, buying bonds, or making other investments. Stockholders in a company usually have voting rights.
Stockholders typically have one vote for each share they own.
Every vote counts, but a stockholder with 5,000 shares will have more influence on the company than someone with only one share. Most companies have annual meetings, where stockholders cast votes and ask questions of the company's leaders. If they cannot attend, stockholders may use an absentee ballot to vote. Shareholders also receive quarterly and annual reports that tell them how the company is doing. As a company makes money, the value of its stock goes up.