Different Types of Stocks | Desjardins Online Brokerage (2024)

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There are two main types of stocks: common stock and preferred stock.

Common Stock

Common stock is, well, common. When people talk about stocks in general they are most likely referring to this type. In fact, the majority of stock issued is in this form. We basically went over features of common stock in the last section. Common shares represent ownership in a company and a claim (dividends) on a portion of profits. Investors get one vote per share to elect the board members, who oversee the major decisions made by management.

Over the long term, common stock, by means of capital growth, yields higher returns than almost every other investment. This higher return comes at a cost since common stocks entail the most risk. If a company goes bankrupt and liquidates, the common shareholders will not receive money until the creditors, bondholders, and preferred shareholders are paid.

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock represents some degree of ownership in a company but usually doesn't come with the same voting rights. (This may vary depending on the company.) With preferred shares investors are usually guaranteed a fixed dividend forever. This is different than common stock, which has variable dividends that are never guaranteed. Another advantage is that in the event of liquidation preferred shareholders are paid off before the common shareholder (but still after debt holders). Preferred stock may also be callable, meaning that the company has the option to purchase the shares from shareholders at anytime for any reason (usually for a premium).

Some people consider preferred stock to be more like debt than equity. A good way to think of these kinds of shares is to see them as being in between bonds and common shares. (If you don't understand bonds make sure also to check out our bond tutorial.)

Different Classes of Stock

Common and preferred are the two main forms of stock; however, it's also possible for companies to customize different classes of stock in any way they want. The most common reason for this is the company wanting the voting power to remain with a certain group; hence, different classes of shares are given different voting rights. For example, one class of shares would be held by a select group who are given ten votes per share while a second class would be issued to the majority of investors who are given one vote per share.

When there is more than one class of stock, the classes are traditionally designated as Class A and Class B. Berkshire Hathaway (ticker: BRK), the company of Warren Buffett (one of the greatest investors of all time), has two classes of stock. The different forms are represented by placing the letter behind the ticker symbol in a form like this: "BRKa, BRKb" or "BRK.A, BRK.B".

Different Types of Stocks | Desjardins Online Brokerage (2024)

FAQs

What are the four main types of stock? ›

Here's what you should know about the different types of stocks.
  • Common stock. Common stock is probably what you think of when you are looking to invest in stocks. ...
  • Preferred stock. Preferred stock is more like a bond than it is a stock. ...
  • Large-cap stock. ...
  • Mid-cap stock. ...
  • Small-cap stock. ...
  • Growth stock. ...
  • Value stock. ...
  • Foreign stock.
May 16, 2024

Is brokerage different for different stocks? ›

The type of securities being traded can also affect brokerage charges. Equities, derivatives, commodities, and other financial instruments may have different fee structures.

What are the 4 main types of orders in stock market? ›

The most common types of orders are market orders, limit orders, and stop-loss orders. A market order is an order to buy or sell a security immediately. This type of order guarantees that the order will be executed, but does not guarantee the execution price.

What are the different types of stocks in the market? ›

The four types of share markets are the primary market (for new securities), the secondary market (for existing securities), the equity market (for stocks), and the derivatives market (for financial contracts based on underlying assets).

How many stock types are there? ›

There are two main types of stock: common and preferred. Common stock usually entitles the owner to vote at shareholders' meetings and to receive any dividends paid out by the corporation. Companies can issue new shares whenever there is a need to raise additional cash.

What are the three types of stocks and how are they different? ›

Large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks

Companies with the biggest market capitalizations are called large-cap stocks, with mid-cap and small-cap stocks representing successively smaller companies. There's no precise line that separates these categories from each other.

How does brokerage work? ›

A brokerage firm or brokerage company is a middleman who connects buyers and sellers to complete a transaction for stock shares, bonds, options, and other financial instruments. Brokers are compensated in commissions or fees that are charged once the transaction has been completed.

How much do brokers charge per trade? ›

Usually, in India, the brokerage fee ranges between 0.01% to 0.5% of the total value of the transaction. For instance, if the amount of share is worth rs. 10,000, and the brokerage fee is 0.1%, then the total fee charged would be Rs. 10.

How does a broker make money? ›

Stockbrokers usually make most of their money from the commission they charge. Trading brokers, on the other hand, tend to make their money from the spread, as well as commissions, overnight funding and other fees. We act as both a stockbroker and a trading broker, giving you the best of both worlds.

Which type of trading is best for beginners? ›

Overview: Swing trading is an excellent starting point for beginners. It strikes a balance between the fast-paced day trading and long-term investing.

What is the best order type for stocks? ›

Market orders are optimal when the primary goal is to execute the trade immediately. A market order is generally appropriate when you think a stock is priced right, when you are sure you want a fill on your order, or when you want an immediate execution.

What are the different types of stock trades? ›

10 different types of trading styles
  • Intraday Trading: This is the most common type of trading practiced in the stock market by traders. ...
  • Swing Trading: ...
  • Arbitrage Trading: ...
  • Positional Trading: ...
  • Options Strategies: ...
  • Trade using Technical Analysis: ...
  • Money Flow Based Trading: ...
  • Trade Driven by Events:

What are the four main types of stocks? ›

The different types of stock
  • Common stock. As mentioned, the main types of stock are common and preferred stock. ...
  • Preferred stock. ...
  • Large-cap stock. ...
  • Mid-cap stock. ...
  • Small-cap stock. ...
  • Growth stock. ...
  • Value stock. ...
  • International stock.
Mar 10, 2024

What are the two basic types of stock markets? ›

The primary market is where securities are created, while the secondary market is where those securities are traded by investors. In the primary market, companies sell new stocks and bonds to the public for the first time, such as with an initial public offering (IPO).

What is the most common type of stock issued? ›

When people talk about stocks, they are usually referring to common stock. In fact, the great majority of stock is issued in this form. Common shares represent a claim on profits (dividends) and confer voting rights.

What are the 4 elements of stock? ›

Investing has a set of four basic elements that investors use to break down a stock's value. In this article, we will look at four commonly used financial ratios—price-to-book (P/B) ratio, price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio, and dividend yield—and what they can tell you about a stock.

What are the 4 basic parts of a stock? ›

Stocks contain four essential parts: a major flavoring ingredient, liquid, aromatics, and mirepoix: The major flavoring ingredient consists of bones and trimmings for meat and fish stocks and vegetables for vegetable stock.

What are the 4 types of stocks in cooking? ›

There are four basic kinds of stock/fond: white stock (Fond Blanc), brown stock (Fond Brun), vegetable or neutral stock (Fond Maigre) and Fish Stock (Fume de Poisson).

What is the most common type of stock? ›

As its name indicates, common stock is the most recognized type of stock. While this stock type not only gives investors an ownership share in a business, it also grants the power to vote on certain company endeavors, like organization policies or leadership elections.

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