Who owns stock companies?

Stock companies are owned by stockholders, which means that individuals or entities who purchase shares of the company hold ownership rights. These stockholders invest capital into the company and, in return, they expect to receive dividends from profits as well as potential appreciation in the value of their stock over time. This ownership structure allows stockholders to have a say in certain company decisions through voting rights associated with the shares they hold.

In contrast, policyowners are individuals or entities that have purchased insurance policies from the company but do not possess ownership rights in the company itself. Creditors are not owners of the company; instead, they lend money to the company and are entitled to repayment according to the terms of their loans. Lastly, the government does not own stock companies but may regulate them through legal and financial frameworks. Therefore, the correct choice regarding who owns stock companies is clearly stockholders.