Stock (Aktie)
A security that gives you a small ownership share in a company.
In short
As of 5 October 2026A stock is a security that gives you a small ownership stake in a company. As a part-owner, you can share in profits paid out and usually vote at the general meeting. Buy 10 of 100 million shares and you own one ten-millionth of the company. Its value moves and can fall to zero in a bankruptcy.
A stock (German: Aktie) makes you a part-owner of a company. You own a tiny slice of the business, with a claim to part of its profit (dividend) and usually a vote at the annual general meeting.
Example: if a company has issued 100 million shares and you buy 10, you own one ten-millionth of it.
A stock's value moves up and down. If the business does well, the price often rises. If it does badly, the price can fall sharply, and in a bankruptcy the stock can become worthless.
Related terms
Sources
As of 5 October 2026 · Educational content, not investment or tax advice.