Preferred stock, like common stock, represents an ownership share in a company. But preferred stock is quite different from common stock. For instance, owners of preferred stock expect to earn income from a fixed, regular payment rather than a share in the company’s financial gains. Moreover, a preferred stock’s market price fluctuates with interest rates and creditworthiness, rather than with a company’s earnings and losses. As a result, preferred stock acts more like a debt security than an equity security.
Preferred stock is less risky than common stock, but it offers less growth potential. It is more risky than debt because companies can miss their regular dividend payments without being in default.
Preferred stock is “preferred” in the sense that dividend payments are distributed to preferred stockholders before any dividends are paid to common stockholders. Preferred stock also has a higher claim on a corporation’s dividends and assets during bankruptcy than common stock. If a company is forced to liquidate, that is dissolve because of bankruptcy, preferred stockholders have first claim to its remaining assets compared to other equity holders. The price for these enhanced privileges is that preferred stocks generally come without voting rights and have no real share in the company’s profits.
Summary Table
Comparison of Common and Preferred Stock
Common
Preferred
Market price
Market price fluctuates with issuer’s profits and losses
Market price fluctuates with interest rates and issuer’s creditworthiness
