A company's shareholders' equity consists of common and preferred stock and retained earnings. When combined with outstanding debt, you have the entire capital structure of a business, the ...

Retained earnings add to shareholder equity (how much each share of a stock is worth in real terms ... Below are answers to some of the most common questions investors have about retained ...

Reviewed by Charlene Rhinehart Dividends are a common way for companies to pay back some of their capital to shareholders.

Common stock represents ownership in a company, offering potential dividends and value increases. Investors in common stock can vote on corporate matters but may hold non-voting shares in some cases.