Equity investing is the practice of purchasing ownership stakes, known as shares or stocks, in a company. As a shareholder, an investor provides capital to a business in exchange for a claim on its future earnings and assets, with the primary goal of generating returns through two main avenues: capital appreciation, which is the increase in the stock's market value over time, and dividends, which are periodic distributions of the company's profits. While offering the potential for significant long-term growth that can outpace other asset classes, equity investing carries inherent risks, including market volatility and the potential loss of the entire investment, as shareholders have a residual claim on assets after debt holders in the event of a company's liquidation.