Who is defined as a person who owns shares of a company's stock?

A person who owns shares of a company's stock is defined as a shareholder. This term specifically refers to individuals or entities that have purchased stock in a company, thus owning a piece of that company. Shareholders have rights that may include voting rights on important company matters and the potential for receiving dividends, which are payments made to shareholders from the company's earnings.

The other terms, while they relate to ownership and financial interests in a company, do not specifically refer to stock ownership. An investor is a broader term that includes anyone who allocates capital for the purpose of generating returns, encompassing shareholders as well as other types of financial positions. A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in the company's performance, such as employees, customers, and suppliers, not necessarily limited to stock ownership. A bondholder refers to an individual or institution that holds bonds issued by the company, which is a form of debt financing, not equity ownership through stock.