Stock

When a company goes public and offers its shares for sale, individuals and institutions can buy those shares and become partial owners of the company. Investors buy stocks with the expectation of making a profit by selling them at a higher price in the future or by earning dividends, which are a portion of a company's profits paid out to shareholders.

Stock prices can be influenced by a variety of factors, including a company's financial performance, economic data, geopolitical events, and market sentiment.