Shareholder

A shareholder, often interchangeably called a stockholder, is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a company. By holding shares, shareholders possess a partial ownership stake in the company and are entitled to certain rights, typically including the right to vote on corporate matters (like electing the board of directors), receive dividends if declared, and access company financial information. Their primary interest is usually financial, seeking capital appreciation of their shares or income from dividends.