What type of stock represents investments made by owners?

Common stock represents the investments made by owners in a corporation. When individuals purchase common stock, they are essentially buying a piece of the company and providing capital for it to operate and grow. Common stockholders have voting rights in the company and can benefit from any dividends declared and from potential increases in stock value. This form of stock indicates an ownership stake, where the shareholders are entitled to any residual profits after all expenses and obligations have been met.

Preferred stock, while also a type of equity, represents a different class of ownership that typically provides fixed dividends and has priority over common stock in the event of liquidation, but it does not represent the core dollar investment made by the owners in the same way common stock does. Bonds payable are a liability for the company, representing money borrowed that must be repaid to creditors, not an investment made by owners. Retained earnings reflect the accumulated profits kept in the business rather than distributed to shareholders, but they are not direct investments made by owners; they are reinvested profits from the company’s operations.