Shares represent units of ownership within a company. Shares are also known as stocks or equities. Dividend payments are common with some companies, a method of sharing company profits with shareholders. In addition to traditional share dealing, however, traders can access derivatives: trading instruments derived from the movement of an underlying share price. Individual stock CFDs (contract for differences) fall under the umbrella of derivative products, an effective low-cost trading vehicle. While CFDs do not grant shareholder privileges, active CFD positions may receive a dividend if executed before the ex-dividend date.