Glossary
Definition
Shareholder
An individual or entity that owns shares in a company.
A shareholder (or stockholder) is any person, institution, or company that owns at least one share of a company's stock. Shareholders are partial owners of the company and may receive dividends and voting rights. Major shareholders — those owning 5%+ of shares — must file ownership disclosures with regulators, which is the primary source data for billionaire net worth estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rights do shareholders have?
Common shareholders typically have the right to vote on major corporate decisions (such as electing the board), receive dividends when declared, and share in proceeds if the company is liquidated.