A stock, also known as a share or equity, represents ownership in a publicly traded company. When you buy a stock, you become a shareholder and have a claim on the company's assets and earnings.
Investing in individual company stocks means buying ownership in a corporation. Stock investments can offer the potential for capital appreciation and may pay dividends, but they also come with higher volatility and risk.
For example, if you buy 100 shares of XYZ Corporation, you own a portion of XYZ and have the potential to benefit from its profits and growth.