Q. What do you mean by Stock?

Stock -- a certificate (or electronic or other record) which indicates ownership of a portion of acorporation; a share of stock. Preferred stock promises its owner a dividend which is generally fixed in amount or percent. Preferred shareholders get paid first out of any profits. They havepreference. Common stock has no preference and no fixed rate of return. Treasury stock wasinitially issued to shareholders though has been subsequently acquired by the corporation. Authorized by unissued stock is stock which official corporate action has authorized though hasn't sold or issued. (Stock also means stock of goods, the stock on hand and inventory ofa company.)