Public corporations issue various forms of stock to meet specific internal requirements and to satisfy public demand. From initial public and secondary offerings to different classes of stock, companies access the public markets to raise funds for expansion and debt repayment, as well as to allow original investors and owners to cash out and diversify their portfolios. Each of the different types of stock represent a form of ownership.
Common Stock
Most corporate shares issued to the public take the form of common stock, which entitles the holders to dividends where applicable and voting rights for the board of directors. For successful companies, common stock generally yields greater returns than other forms of company ownership. Conversely, it also represents the most risk, as common stock takes a lower priority than corporate bonds, preferred shares and company creditors. Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) come with symbols of one, two or three letters, including F for Ford and GE for General Electric. The electronic NASDAQ exchange issues four-letter symbols, such as AAPL for Apple Computer.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock conveys ownership in a corporation and takes priority over common stock if a company must liquidate or declare bankruptcy. Although it comes with little or no voting rights, the accompanying dividend is traditionally higher than that for common stock. It can also be callable, which gives the company the right to repurchase the shares at a fixed price within a future time period. The NYSE incorporates the letters "PR" within the symbols for preferred shares, while other exchanges use the "-P" suffix.
Class A Shares
Companies wishing to give extra or different voting rights to a certain group of shareholders can choose to issue different classes of stock. Class A stock typically comes with extraordinary voting ability; holders may have 10 votes for every share they own. This class is generally reserved for insiders, family members and founders who want to retain control of the company without owning a majority of the stock. Class A shares add either 'a' or '.A' to the symbol.
Class B Shares
When a company issues more than one class of stock, the B shares usually cover the majority of stock outstanding and come with one vote per share. These shares are distinguished by stock symbols that add either 'b' or '.B' to the end. While these are standard parameters for 'B' shares, companies have wide discretion in allocating voting rights among different share classes.
References
- QuantumOnline.com: Preferred Ticker Symbols & Security Names
- MarketWatch: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl B
- Emory Law Journal. "A Snapshot of Dual-Class Share Structures in the Twenty-First Century: A Solution to Reconcile Shareholder Protections with Founder Autonomy." Accessed Mar. 5, 2020.
- Berkshire Hathaway. "Annual Report 2019," Page 19. Accessed Mar. 5, 2020.
- Yahoo!Finance. "Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B)." Accessed Mar. 5, 2020.
- Yahoo!Finance. "Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A)." Accessed Mar. 5, 2020.
- Berkshire Hathaway. "Chairman's Letter." Accessed Mar. 5, 2020.
- New York Attorney General's Office. "Understanding Common Investments: Stock." Accessed Mar. 5, 2020.
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