When it comes to investing, there are different types of shares that you can invest in. Class A, B, and C are the most common. In this article, we will discuss what class A shares are and how they work. We will also compare them to class B and C shares, and give our opinion on whether or not they are better.

Finally, we will answer some common questions about the different classes of shares.

What are Class A shares?

Class A shares are a type of stock that is typically offered by larger companies. They often have voting rights and can be traded on major exchanges. Class A shares usually have more restrictions than other types of shares, but they also tend to be more stable and offer higher dividends. 

They might have more restrictions because they are often publicly listed which means they have to adhere to SEC regulations. Simply put, they are the most common and most popular type of stock. 

They offer investors a chance to own a piece of a company and receive voting rights and dividends. While they may have more restrictions, these shares are often seen as being more stable than others. For these reasons, Class A shares are typically the most desirable type of stock to own.

How Class A shares work

As we mentioned before, Class A shares are offered by larger companies and are usually traded on major exchanges. The way they work is that the company issues a certain number of shares, which are then bought and sold by investors. 

When you buy a Class A share, you become a part-owner of the company. Voting rights are usually given to Class A shareholders, which means that they have a say in how the company is run. 

The number of Class A shares a company has is determined by its board of directors, and they can be issued all at once or over time. As a retail investor, the way you would own class A shares is by buying them on a stock exchange. 

The price of the shares will go up and down depending on how investors feel about the company. The identification of class A is usually viewed by the ticker symbol. If not, it should be displayed on the company's website or filings.

Example of Class A shares 

An example of a Class A share is when a company goes public, the shares that are offered to the general public for purchase are typically Class A shares. The holders of Class A shares are usually the founders, early investors, and employees of the company. GOOGL is the class A shares for Google while GOOG is the class C shares.

Class A shares vs Class B vs Class C 

class a shares

Each company can create benefits and weighting around: 

  • Voting Rights 
  • Dividend Priority 
  • Liquidity 

This is usually done at their own discretion and there is no set standard. One company's Class A shares might offer more voting rights than another company's Class A shares. It all depends on how the company structures it. From an investment standpoint, Class A shares are usually seen as the best type of share to own. 

They offer stability, high dividends, and voting rights. Class B and C shares, on the other hand, often don't offer as much in terms of stability and dividends. They also typically don't have voting rights. 

However, it's important to reiterate that it's a case-by-case basis and you should always do your own research before investing in any type of stock. For example, a Class B share can offer greater dividends but less voting rights than Class A while Class C is reserved for early investors or have no voting rights. 

This is just a generalization as each company can structure its shares however they want. The reason why companies separate their shares into these different classes is to give each group of shareholders different benefits. 

This way, the company can attract a wider range of investors. Each type of share has its own advantages and disadvantages. It's up to the investor to decide which type of share is right for them. 

Are Class A shares better?

If the voting right is what makes a classification better in your perspective, then yes. Class A shares offer more political influence to the shareholder regarding the company. If you're looking for a higher dividend priority, Class B shares might be better in that case. It is all dependent on what the investor is looking for when they purchase shares.

But with that being said, it depends on how the company wishes to assign benefits to each share classification. There's no set rule that Class A will have a specific benefit throughout the entire market. Each company picks and chooses so it's really difficult to say. 

Do Class A shares pay dividends?

In most cases, yes. But like we said before, it all comes down to how the company structures its shares. Some companies might choose to pay higher dividends to Class B shares or even no dividends to Class C shares. 

It also depends on the company itself. Some companies, especially growth companies, don't pay dividends at all regardless of share class.

What class shares should I invest in?

So in short, it really varies and there is no easy answer. The best way to find out is by doing your own research on the company and the different types of shares they offer. This way, you can make an informed decision on what type of share is best for you and your investment goals. 

Class A shares are the most common type of stock and are typically seen as the best type of share to own. If you want to keep things simple, then Class A shares are a good place to start. 

However, it's important to do your own research before investing in any type of stock. If you want to dig deeper and hyper-optimize your equity ownership to your liking, then you might want to consider other share classes.