Can you convert common stock to preferred stock?

Certain preferred stocks are designated as convertible preferred stock, which means that you can choose to convert preferred shares to common shares at a predetermined exchange rate. But this doesn't work in reverse -- common stocks are not convertible into preferred stocks.

What is the expected return on a common stock?

Overall, the stock market has generated annualized returns in the 9% to 10% range over long time periods, so this is a reasonable expectation if you hold a stock for many years. However, stocks can be incredibly volatile over the short term, and returns can vary dramatically from stock to stock, so keep this in mind before investing.

Are common stocks suitable for beginners?

There are thousands of publicly traded companies in the United States alone, and some are far more beginner-friendly than others. Beginners should focus on businesses with stable, growing revenue that are generally easy to understand before evaluating fast-growing, volatile businesses.

Is preferred or common stock a better investment?

The best choice between preferred and common stock depends on your investment goals. Preferred stocks are a form of fixed income investment and, therefore, are most appropriate for investors whose priorities are income and capital preservation. On the other hand, common stocks can share in the success of the underlying business and may be a better choice for investors looking to grow their money over the long term.

How do taxes affect my investments in common stocks?

If you own common stocks in a standard (taxable) brokerage account, there are two potential tax implications. If you sell the stock for a profit, you might have to pay capital gains tax on it. And if your stocks pay dividends, they are generally taxable, although most dividends get lower tax rates than ordinary income.

Can I lose all my money investing in common stocks?

It's unlikely to lose all of your money with a diversified portfolio of common stocks, especially if you focus on established and profitable businesses. However, with any given stock, there's always a chance that something could go seriously wrong, leaving shareholders wiped out.

Can you make money on common stock?

Returns can vary over short periods of time and from stock to stock. But over the long term, stocks as an asset class tend to deliver strong returns. Historically, the S&P 500 has averaged a 9% to 10% total return over the long term.

What Are Common Stocks? Pros, Cons, & How to Invest

Most stocks you hear about are common stocks -- here's what they are.

By Matthew Frankel, CFP – Updated Aug 12, 2026 at 3:41 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Common stocks provide both voting rights and potential financial gains via dividends and value appreciation.
Investors prioritize common stocks for long-term growth, despite their higher volatility compared to preferred stocks.
Total stockholder's equity on a balance sheet reflects the book value of common stocks, key for investment valuation.

Common stocks represent partial ownership in a company and are the type of stock most people buy. Common stocks offer voting rights, as well as the potential for dividends and capital appreciation. You can find information about a company's common stock in its balance sheet.

What are common stocks?

Simply put, each share of common stock represents a piece of ownership in a company. If a company does well or the value of its assets increases, common stock can appreciate.

On the other hand, if a company is doing poorly, common stock can decrease in value.

Shares of common stock allow investors to share in a company's success over time, which is why they can make excellent long-term investments.

In general, common stock entitles the holder to vote on corporate directors and on policy changes and stock splits. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but in most cases, you'll have voting rights.

Some companies distribute a portion of their profits to common stockholders as dividends, and each common stockholder is entitled to a proportional share. But this isn't a requirement.

Common stock vs. preferred stock

The other primary type of stock is preferred stock, which works a bit differently. One main difference is that preferred stock has a fixed, guaranteed dividend, while ordinary stock dividends can change over time or even be discontinued. On the other hand, preferred stocks don't entitle the holder to a share of the company's profits, so they don't have nearly as much long-term upside potential.

For these reasons, the prices of preferred stocks generally don't fluctuate as much as common stock.

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Advantages and disadvantages of common stocks

Advantages of common stock investing

Common stocks have massive potential for long-term gains.
Common stocks can allow you to create a diversified investment portfolio.
Many common stocks pay dividends.
Common stock dividends can grow over time.
Common stockholders usually have the right to vote at annual meetings.
Common stocks are highly liquid investments and can be readily bought or sold.

Disadvantages

Common stocks can be rather volatile investments over short periods.
Common stockholders are also last in line when things go bad.
In the event of bankruptcy, holders of common stock have the lowest priority claim on a company's assets, ranking behind secured creditors such as banks.

Factors to consider when investing in common stocks

Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing common stocks:

What are your long-term investing goals? Do you want slow and steady returns, or do you have the patience to allow a company's growth to play out?
Have the company's earnings and revenue been trending in the right direction? Reading the company's recent quarterly earnings reports can provide valuable insights into this and other financial metrics.
If income is a priority, does the company have a strong track record of increasing its dividend over time?
What is the competitive landscape in the company's industry? Is it an industry leader, or is it attempting to disrupt the industry leaders?

How to invest in common stocks

The procedure for investing in common stocks is straightforward. Here are the basic steps:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you manage your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Common stock on a balance sheet

Equity is the value of what the stockholders own. On a company's balance sheet, common stock is recorded in the "stockholders' equity" section. This is where investors can determine the book value, or net worth, of their shares, which equals the company's assets minus its liabilities.

The main point is that total stockholders' equity equals the book value of the stock. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the stock trades for that amount. Rapidly growing companies may trade for several times their book value, while riskier or struggling companies may trade at a discount.

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The bottom line

When buying a stock, investors don't have to wonder exactly what type of stock it is. Common stock is the default. Preferred stock will indicate in the name that the shares are preferred. Common stock is called common for a reason.

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Common stock FAQ

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About the Author

Matt Frankel, CFP®, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in the real estate and financial sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, Globe St, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his real estate, financial, stock market, and investing expertise.

TMFMattFrankel

@MattFrankelUSC

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What Are Common Stocks? Your Guide to Advantages, Disadvantages, and How to Invest

Most stocks you hear about are common stocks -- here's what they are.

Key Points