Difference Between a Shareholder and a Stakeholder
“Shareholder” and “stakeholder” are both important terms in business, but they refer to different groups of people:
- Shareholder:
A shareholder, also known as a stockholder, is an individual, company, or institution that owns at least one share of a company’s stock. As owners, shareholders have the right to share in the company’s profitability via dividends. They also have voting rights in the company proportional to the number of shares they own, and can influence decisions on key matters like electing the board of directors or approving mergers and acquisitions. - Stakeholder:
A stakeholder is a much broader term that includes anyone who has an interest in or is affected by the operations and performance of a company. This can include internal and external individuals and entities.
Internal stakeholders are individuals or groups within the organization, such as employees, managers, and shareholders.
External stakeholders are outside the organization and include customers, suppliers, creditors, investors, government agencies, and the wider community.
In summary, while shareholders are a specific type of stakeholder who own a part of the company through share ownership, stakeholders represent a much broader group. Stakeholders may or may not have a financial stake in the company but are affected by the company’s activities in some way.
Example of the Difference Between a Shareholder and a Stakeholder
Suppose GreenTech Inc. is a company that manufactures solar panels. It’s a publicly traded company, so it has shareholders who own its stock.
- Shareholders:
Jane is an investor who owns 500 shares of GreenTech Inc. As a shareholder, she has certain rights, such as voting on major corporate decisions and receiving dividends when the company distributes profits to shareholders. Her primary interest in the company is its financial performance because that directly impacts the value of her investment. - Stakeholders:
In addition to Jane and other shareholders, GreenTech Inc. has a variety of other stakeholders:- Employees: The people who work for GreenTech Inc., from the CEO to the factory workers, are stakeholders. They have a vested interest in the company’s success because it provides them with jobs, income, and potentially benefits or bonuses.
- Customers: Individuals and businesses that purchase and use GreenTech’s solar panels are stakeholders. They are interested in the quality, price, and effectiveness of the products, as well as GreenTech’s customer service.
- Suppliers: Companies that supply raw materials for GreenTech’s solar panels are stakeholders. They have a vested interest in GreenTech doing well and continuing to buy their products.
- Local Community: The local community where GreenTech has its factory is also a stakeholder. They might be interested in GreenTech’s success because it provides jobs and stimulates the local economy, but they would also be concerned about environmental impact or other factors.
- Government: Government agencies that regulate business practices, environmental impact, and taxes are stakeholders in GreenTech.
In this example, Jane the shareholder is also a stakeholder, but there are many other stakeholders in GreenTech Inc. who have a variety of interests and concerns related to the company.
