Stock Certificate

A stock certificate is a physical or electronic legal document issued by a corporation, verifying an investor’s ownership of a stated number of shares in the company. The certificate contains critical details such as the shareholder’s name, number and class of shares, date of issue, unique identification or certificate number, corporate seal, and signatures of authorized company officers.​

Historically, physical stock certificates served as tangible proof of share ownership, enabling shareholders to transfer shares and claim dividends or voting rights. Today, most companies use electronic records (book-entry) for share ownership, reducing the need for paper certificates while maintaining rigorous documentation and security.​

A stock certificate itself is not the stock, but rather a legal representation and evidence of the shareholder’s rights and interests in the corporation