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Difference Between Equity And Preference Shares

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Difference Between Equity And Preference Shares

Difference Between Equity And Preference Shares

NIWS (National Institute of Wall Street) 10 Jun 2022

The term share refers to the company's ownership stake, which has an exchangeable value. Market forces can influence that. As per section 43 company act 2013, the company's share capital is divided into equity and preference. Voting rights and distribution of dividends is of the essential difference between equity and preference shares. Hence selecting from any of them is become quite tricky when it comes to the investment opportunity. When choosing any of these shares, one needs to know how the share market works and what are the right ways of selecting shares. It is always suggested to join the Stock Market Institute In Delhi, where you will find the best stock market strategies, which help to invest your money in the right and appropriate way.

What Are Equity Shares?

With the motive to raise the company capital, the company issues its equity shares. And once the company gets the funds from the common public, it will use them for expansion and growth. Hence, the equity shares are non-redeemable, so they serve as the companies' long-term finances. The company held the share capital throughout, and in the event of winding up, it is distributed. In the case of equity shares, shareholders will get the voting rights, and its holders have the right to receive companies surplus. The company's management can determine the dividend rate which will be distributed among the shareholders.

Moreover, these kinds of shares can be easily transferable without consideration. Notably, the proportion of ownership determines based on shares held by the investors. Hence with the help of the stock exchange, all claims can be easily traded. Issue price, face value, book value and intrinsic value is the way of expressing the value of these shares. 

Types of Equity Shares 

On the liability side of companies' balance, sheet equity shares appear. When it comes to equity shares types then, they don't have such kinds of types; hence they are considered ordinary stock, so they are categorized on a different basis:

  1. Subscribed Share Capital 
  2. Authorized Share Capital 
  3. Issued Share Capital 
  4. Right Share
  5. Sweat Equity Shares 

Substantial dividends have been received by shareholders in the case of equity shares and grant them price appreciation in investment value.

Also, with the benefit of liquidity, shareholders can quickly sell the equity shares effortlessly, which makes another difference between equity and preference shares. With the base of equity capital, it is easy to secure credit. Hence equity is considered the permanent source of money. Now let's proceed toward the next step of this article which is about preference shares because if you want to know the clear difference between equity and preference shares, you need to understand each of them briefly.

What Are Preference Shares?

The issuance of capital raised by preference shares is called preference share capital. With fix rate of dividend, these shares are issued, and at the time of liquidation preference, shareholders have to avail profits and raise claims for the company's assets. In terms of capital and profit repayment, these shares are ranked between debt and equity. However, likewise equity shares, preference shareholders are also the partial owners of the company's capital. Although they don't have any voting rights, in any company important, the existence of preference shareholders is less in comparison to equity shareholders. Although preference shareholders don't have rights to claim bonus shares, this becomes the most crucial difference between equity and preference shares. 

The most important thing is converting preference shares into preferred stocks is easy as they are similar to the debentures. Furthermore, preference shareholders have the right to repurchase the shares at a particular time. In the case of this share, shareholders will receive an extent substantial dividend, but it doesn't come with the closing date. 

Based on management, the decision of dividend distribution lies on which is not fixed at the time of loss. Like every difference, this is also considered the essential difference between equity and preference shares. Although if it decides not to pay dividends at a particular, the company will transfer it in the next year.

Hence you can join the Stock Market Course In Delhi and learn the basics and advanced aspects of the stock market, which will help you choose the proper share for your investment purposes based on your financial goals.

Types of Preference Shares 

Below are the essential types of preference shares.

  1. Cumulative Preference Shares
  2. Non- Cumulative Preference Shares
  3. Redeemable Preference Shares
  4. Non-Redeemable Preference Shares
  5. Convertible Preference Shares
  6. Participating Preference Shares
  7. Non- Participating Preference Shares

Always remember that dividends paid to preference shareholders are never deducted from the taxes. Also, redeeming such shares becomes a burden on the company's capital. 

Difference Between Equity And Preference Shares

Once we have discussed preference and equity shares, the next important part is to discuss the difference between equity and preference shares. 

Based on Nature

 Equity Shares

Preference Shares

Definition

 Equity shares represent the extent of ownership of the company.

 When it comes to paying a dividend or repaying capital preference, shareholders get priority of repayment first.

Dividend Payout 

 Once all the liabilities are paid off, shareholders will receive the dividend.

 Regarding dividend distribution, preference shareholders will get priority of  repayment over equity shareholders

Rate of Dividend

 Based on earning rate fluctuates.

 The dividend rates remain fixed

Bonus Share

 Against existing shareholding, these shares have the right to receive a bonus.

 In the case of these shares, they don't have the right to receive the shares bonus

Capital Repayment

 In the end it becomes repaid

 Before equity shares, preference shares get the priority of repayment 

Voting Rights

 Equity shares come with voting rights.

 Don't receive any advantage regarding voting rights.

Role of Management

 In every important decision regarding the management of company equity shareholders can participate with the benefit of voting rights

 In the case of preference shares, they don’t receive extended voting rights

Redemption

 It is not possible to redeem equity shares

 It is easy to redeem preference shares.

Convertibility

 Not possible to convert

 Possible to convert into equity shares

Areas of Dividend 

 In the case of equity shares, shareholders don't have the right to avail themselves of areas of dividends.

 Along with the current year's dividend, shareholders have the right to avail of dividend

Types

 Based on ordinary stocks of the company, they have been categorised

 In the case of preference shares, they are divided into serval parts, including convertible, non-convertible, cumulative and non-cumulative.

Financing Terms

 Long-term financing has been served in the case of equity shares

 In the case of preference shares, long and mid-term financing has been performed.

Mandate to Issue

 It is mandatory to issue the equity share capital for the companies

 There is no need to issue preference shares to all companies

Investment Denomination

 In the case of equity shares, they have a low denomination

 One can get higher denomination preference shares

Types of Investors

 For risk-taking investors, it is suitable to invest in equity shares

 For a risk-averse investor investing in preference is suitable

Associated Burden

 It is not mandatory to pay the equity dividend. Hence all factors depend on the company's profit.

 It is necessary to pay a dividend to the shareholders of the company.


Similarities Between Preference and Equity Shares

  • Under the Indian companies act 1956, section 85 both preference and equity shares are defined
  • Company capital owned both equity and preference shares

Conclusion

We can say that in case of a difference between equity and preference shares, investors in case of both will get different kinds of benefits. While at the time of the company’s important decisions, equity shareholders will enjoy the voting right. On the other hand, preference shareholders will get the priority to be paid off at the time of liquidity as it is always said that investing in any of these two shares all depends on the personal financial goals, risk tolerance and total amount of dividend received.  

 

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