ordinary shares

pl n (Stock Exchange) Brit shares representing part of the capital issued by a company and entitling their holders to a dividend that varies according to the prosperity of the company, to vote at all meetings of members, and to a claim on the net assets of the company, after the holders of preference shares have been paid. US equivalent: common stock Compare preference shares See also A shares

Thesaurus

Noun

ordinary shares - stock other than preferred stock; entitles the owner to a share of the corporation's profits and a share of the voting power in shareholder elections; "over 40 million Americans invest in common stocks"common shares, common stockstock - the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest (equity); "he owns a controlling share of the company's stock"blue chip, blue-chip stock - a common stock of a nationally known company whose value and dividends are reliable; typically have high price and low yield; "blue chips are usually safe investments"classified stock - common stock classified as A or B where A has certain advantages (e.g., voting power) that B does notstock of record - stock held by stockholders of record on a given date

Translations

ordinary shares

Related to ordinary shares: preference shares

ordinary shares

the shares issued to members of a limited company. These represent the equity or risk capital of a company; they carry no prior rights in terms of entitlement to dividend or return of capital on a winding-up. Ordinary shares generally carry full voting rights. Different are preference shares, which entitle the holder to a stipulated fixed rate return in the form of a dividend (like the fixed rate return to which holders of loan stock are entitled) whereas the dividend declared in respect of the former is purely a matter for the directors and subject to approval by the shareholders in general meetings. In the event of a winding-up, holders of preference shares are entitled to be paid before ordinary shareholders.

ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Apples mainly to international equities. Shares of non-U.S. companies traded in their individual home markets. Usually cannot be delivered in the U.S. See: ADR.

Common Stock

Stock in a publicly-traded company that entitles holders to vote in the annual meeting, to elect the board of directors, and to generally exercise control of the company. While common stockholders are important in terms of their level of control, they have the least precedence in the event of liquidation. That is, if the company goes bankrupt, common stockholders do not receive any money until all bondholders, other debt holders, and preferred shareholders are paid in full. Likewise, common stock is not entitled to a guaranteed dividend. Common stock is also called ordinary stock.

ordinary shares

The European equivalent for shares of common stock. Ordinary shares are held in trust as backing for American Depositary Receipts.

ordinary shares

equity

a FINANCIAL SECURITY issued to those individuals and institutions who provide long-term finance for JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. Ordinary SHAREHOLDERS are entitled to any net profits made by their company after all expenses (including interest charges and tax) have been paid and they generally receive some or all of these profits in the form of DIVIDENDS. In the event of the company being wound up they are entitled to any remaining ASSETS of the business after all debts and the claims of PREFERENCE SHAREHOLDERS have been discharged. Ordinary shareholders generally have voting rights at company ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS which depend upon the number of shares which they hold. However, some UK and overseas companies have both voting and NONVOTING SHARES, where the company founders or directors have sought to raise new share capital without diluting their control by issuing non-voting shares. See also SHARE CAPITAL.

ordinary shares

equity

a FINANCIAL SECURITY issued to those individuals and institutions who provide long-term finance for JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. Ordinary SHAREHOLDERS are entitled to any net profits made by their company after all expenses (including interest charges and tax) have been paid, and they generally receive some or all of these profits in the form of DIVIDENDS. In the event of the company being wound up (see INSOLVENCY), they are entitled to any remaining ASSETS of the business after all debts and the claims of PREFERENCE SHAREHOLDERS have been discharged. Ordinary shareholders generally have voting rights at company ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS, which depend upon the number of shares that they hold. See also SHARE CAPITAL.

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Ordinary shares

Common Stock

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equity

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equity

ordinary shares

Synonyms for ordinary shares

noun stock other than preferred stock

Synonyms

Related Words