2009-03-08

Basic Stocks (2) ---Different Types Of Stocks

There are many different types of stocks which can be invested in based upon your financial position, your risk comfort level, and your investment goals. In order to determine which type to invest in, you have to first determine what you want the stock to do for you. Do you plan to hold the security long-term, or are you a day trader? Are you looking for capital gains in your investments or is income your main objective? How you answer these questions will give you a good idea of which type of stock you should be considering for your portfolio.

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

Common Stock
Common stock is, well, common. When people talk about stocks they are usually referring to this type. In fact, the majority of stock is 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.

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; therefore, 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), 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".

In addition, stocks can be classified to other types according to different standard. Listed below are several types of stocks which are commonly traded in the securities market:

· Blue chip stocks are stocks of well-established companies that have stable earnings and no extensive liabilities. They have a track record of paying regular dividends, and are valued by investors seeking relative safety and stability. The name comes from the blue-colored chips in the game of poker, which are typically the most valuable.

· Penny stocks are low-priced, speculative and risky securities which are traded over-the-counter (OTC); i.e. outside of one of the major exchanges.

· Income stocks offer a higher dividend in relation to their market price. They are especially attractive to investors who are looking for current income that will gradually grow over the years as a way to offset inflation.

· Growth stocks are securities which appreciate in value and yield a high return. Their profits are typically re-invested to expand the business. Investors gain because the stock prices increase as the business grows, thus increasing the value of the investment.

· Value stocks are securities which investors consider to be undervalued. They feel that the stock is being traded below market value, and they believe in the long-term growth of the issuing company.

Source from: investopedia.com

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