What is another term for common stock?

Common stock is often referred to as "contributed capital" because it represents the capital that shareholders have contributed to the company in exchange for ownership shares. When investors buy common stock, they are effectively providing funds to the company, which is then classified as contributed capital on the balance sheet. This term helps to differentiate it from other equity accounts, such as retained earnings, which reflects the cumulative amount of profit the company has reinvested in the business rather than distributed as dividends.

Understanding this relationship with contributed capital is crucial for assessing a company's equity structure and financial health. The other terms, like retained earnings, dividends payable, and operating revenue, refer to different aspects of a company's financial situation and do not directly relate to the ownership interest represented by common stock.