Both stocks and shares represent ownership in a company, but they are often used interchangeably, which can cause confusion. Stocks refer to the ownership certificates of any company, while shares represent a unit of ownership in a particular company.
Stocks refer to the overall ownership in one or more companies. When you own stocks, you own a fraction of the corporation's assets and earnings. Owning stocks means you have equity in the company, contributing to your stake in its overall performance.
Shares are a specific unit of stock. When you purchase shares, you are buying individual units of stock in a company. The term "shares" is used when referring to the number of units you own in a single company, helping to quantify your ownership.
While stocks are