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Preferred Stock

Moneyzine Editor
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Moneyzine Editor
1 mins
September 21st, 2023
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Definition

The financial accounting term preferred stock refers to a class of equities issued by corporations that contains special preferences, or features, that are not present in common stock. Preferred stock dividends are typically paid before those of common stocks; however, they usually don't have the voting rights common shareholders enjoy.

Explanation

Preferred stocks are often described as a hybrid between common stocks and bonds. The value of preferred stock issued by a company can be found in the owner's equity section of the company's balance sheet.

Generally, preferred stock exhibits one or more of the following features or characteristics:

  • Claim to Assets: stockholders are paid after bondholders, but before common stockholders in the event of liquidation.

  • Par Value: preferred shares are typically assigned a dollar value, which is the amount that would be paid to shareholders in the event of liquidation.

  • Nonvoting Convertible Preferred: stockholders are not allowed to participate in the voting process normally offered to holders of common stock.

  • Convertible Preferred Stock: shares of the preferred stock may be convertible to common stock at a pre-determined ratio.

  • Fixed Dividends: preferred stock is generally paid dividends before common stockholders.

  • Callable Preferred Stock: preferred stock can often be retrieved by the company at a pre-determined price and usually after a fixed amount of time has elapsed.

Related Terms

balance sheet, owner's equity, par value, additional paid-in capital, Class A and Class B stock, cumulative preferred stock, participating preferred stock, callable preferred stock, convertible preferred stock

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