<Li> + / − gain / loss from changes to the number of shares outstanding . </Li> <Li> = Equity (end of year) if one gets more money during the year or less or not anything </Li> <P> An equity investment generally refers to the buying and holding of shares of stock on a stock market by individuals and firms in anticipation of income from dividends and capital gains . Typically, equity holders receive voting rights, meaning that they can vote on candidates for the board of directors (shown on a diversification of the fund (s) and to obtain the skill of the professional fund managers in charge of the fund (s). An alternative, which is usually employed by large private investors and pension funds, is to hold shares directly; in the institutional environment many clients who own portfolios have what are called segregated funds, as opposed to or in addition to the pooled mutual fund alternatives . </P> <P> A calculation can be made to assess whether an equity is over or underpriced, compared with a long - term government bond . This is called the yield gap or Yield Ratio . It is the ratio of the dividend yield of an equity and that of the long - term bond . </P>

Equity of us companies can be purchased by