Common Stock

Common stock represents ownership in a company. Shareholders with common stocks have voting rights and the opportunity to receive dividends.If the company is liquidated, common stockholders are the last to get paid from any remaining assets. This means that after the company settles its debts and pays other claims, if there is anything left, common stockholders will receive a share. However, they are last in line, so there may not be anything left by the time it reaches them.