Shareholder

How it is used

Common in company reports and news. Companies talk about returning value to shareholders and hold an annual general meeting for them. A major or controlling shareholder owns a large stake; minority shareholders own small stakes. Americans often say 'stockholder'.

Example sentences

1. The founding family remains the largest shareholder with a 51 percent stake.

2. Shareholders approved the dividend proposal at the general meeting.

Common collocations

• major shareholder
• minority shareholder
• shareholder value
• shareholder meeting
• controlling shareholder

Related terms

• shareOne of the equal units into which the ownership of a company is divided. If you own shares, you own a part of the company.
• stockA type of investment that gives you a small part of the ownership of a company. People also use the word for the shares of one particular company.
• dividendA part of a company's profit that it pays to its shareholders, usually in cash and usually a fixed amount for each share.
• equityOwnership in a company in the form of shares. In accounting, it also means the value left for shareholders after all debts are subtracted from the assets.
• listed companyA company whose shares are officially admitted to trading on a stock exchange, so anyone can buy and sell them and the company must publish regular information.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• shareholder · Business English
• shareholder · Management & Leadership
• shareholder · Finance & Banking
• shareholder · Contract & Commercial Law

More terms: Stocks & Shares

• share price
• IPO
• ticker symbol
• blue-chip stock
• free float
• growth stock
• small-cap