Ownership
Shareholders own a claim on part of the company after its obligations are accounted for. They may also have voting rights and can receive distributions if the company declares them.
Owning a share is different from lending money to the company.
Why prices move
Prices reflect what buyers and sellers are willing to pay based on expectations about earnings, cash flows, growth, risk and wider market conditions.
A good company and a good investment price are not automatically the same thing.
Return and risk
Stock returns can come from price changes and dividends. Both are uncertain.
Shareholders can lose some or all of their investment if the business performs badly or the market value falls.
General information only. Investment products can lose value, and terms, fees and regulation can change.