What are 'shares'?

Company shares are portions of ownership in a company limited by shares, with each one representing a percentage of the company. Shares are owned by one or more individuals and/or corporate bodies known as ‘shareholders’ or ‘members’. The number, value, and types of company shares owned by members determine: how much control and voting power they have how much profit they’re entitled to the limit of their financial liability for company debt Shares are a form of property, which means they can be bought, sold, and transferred to other people.