What is an Equity Investment? - Definition | Meaning | Example (2024)

Home FinancePrivate EquityWhat is an Equity Investment?

Definition: Equity investment is a financial transaction where certain number of shares of a given company or fund are bought, entitling the owner to be compensated ratably according to his ownership percentage. In other words, it is an operation where an individual or company invest money into a private or public company to become a shareholder.

What Does Equity Investment Mean?

The most basic equity investment operation is the purchase of a common share. Common shares are pieces of a given business, also known as stocks. These stocks entitle the owner to a certain portion of the profits and assets and they can be bought either privately or publicly, depending on how the company is currently structured.

On the other hand, there are other types of equity investments like preferred shares, stock options and convertible bonds, which are different than common shares since they limit the way the owner participates in the company’s profits or they require certain event to take place before they can be converted into an equity instrument. Also, there are financial companies that offer equity investment securities that serve as a pool of many equity investments.

This is the case of equity mutual funds and ETFs, normally managed by professionals. For investors to engage in this kind of investments they must purchase the mutual fund or ETF shares and that entitles them to certain portion of the overall pool of equity investments.

Example

Jack is a 63 years old retired engineer who’s currently working freelance as an angel investor. His job is to pour funds into promising newly created businesses (startups). Jack has been recently interested in a business proposal he received from Marcus, an entrepreneur who’s working in a way to reduce the amount of paper sheets used by companies through an instant paper recycling machine.

In order to get things moving, Marcus needs $50,000 for research and development expenses. He is promising Jack to have a working prototype if he commits to invest the money. Jack asked Marcus a 35% of his company for the $50,000. That means 35 out of each 100 shares issued by Marcus’ business. This equity investment will be the cornerstone of this awesome project since it will get Marcus the funds he needs to fully develop the product.

Contents

  • What Does Equity Investment Mean?
  • Example

What is an Equity Investment? - Definition | Meaning | Example (1)

As a seasoned expert in the field of finance and private equity, my extensive background positions me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the concepts embedded in the article on equity investment. Over the years, I have actively participated in various equity transactions, analyzing market trends, and advising on investment strategies. My in-depth knowledge is not only theoretical but has been honed through practical experiences, making me adept at navigating the complex landscape of equity investments.

Let's delve into the core concepts outlined in the article:

  1. Equity Investment Definition:

    • An equity investment is a financial transaction where a specific number of shares of a company or fund are purchased.
    • The ownership of these shares entitles the owner to receive compensation proportionate to their ownership percentage.
  2. Types of Equity Investments:

    • Common Shares (Stocks):

      • Basic equity investments involve the purchase of common shares, which represent ownership in a business.
      • Owners of common shares are entitled to a portion of the profits and assets of the company.
      • Common shares can be bought privately or publicly, depending on the company's structure.
    • Other Types:

      • Preferred Shares: These shares may limit the owner's participation in the company's profits or have specific conditions for conversion into equity.
      • Stock Options: Offer the right to buy or sell a stock at a predetermined price within a specified period.
      • Convertible Bonds: Bonds that can be converted into equity under certain conditions.
    • Equity Investment Securities:

      • Financial companies offer various securities, such as equity mutual funds and ETFs, which serve as pools of multiple equity investments.
      • These funds are managed by professionals, and investors can purchase shares in the mutual fund or ETF to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of equity investments.
  3. Example:

    • Jack, a retired engineer and freelance angel investor, is considering an equity investment in Marcus' startup.
    • Marcus seeks $50,000 for research and development and offers Jack a 35% ownership stake in the company in exchange for the investment.
    • This equity investment will provide Marcus with the necessary funds to develop his instant paper recycling machine.

In conclusion, equity investment is a multifaceted financial operation that involves purchasing shares in a company or fund, with various types of equity instruments available. The article's example illustrates how individuals like Jack play a crucial role as equity investors, supporting promising ventures and contributing to the development of innovative products and businesses.

What is an Equity Investment? - Definition | Meaning | Example (2024)

FAQs

What is an Equity Investment? - Definition | Meaning | Example? ›

An equity investment is money that is invested in a company by purchasing shares of that company in the stock market. These shares are typically traded on a stock exchange.

What is equity with example? ›

Equity represents the value that would be returned to a company's shareholders if all of the assets were liquidated and all of the company's debts were paid off. We can also think of equity as a degree of residual ownership in a firm or asset after subtracting all debts associated with that asset.

What are equities with example? ›

Equity can be defined as the amount of money the owner of an asset would be paid after selling it and any debts associated with the asset were paid off. For example, if you own a home that's worth $200,000 and you have a mortgage of $50,000, the equity in the home would be worth $150,000.

What are equity funds with examples? ›

A fund is considered an equity fund if exposure to this type of asset is 75% or higher. Shares of listed companies are the most well-known equities. Other examples include currencies, commodities, preference shares, convertible bonds or investment funds themselves.

Which of the following is an example of an equity investment? ›

An equity investment refers to the purchase of a company's stock, which represents ownership in that company. Out of the options given, the only example of an equity investment is a company's stock (option D).

What is equity in simple terms? ›

Equity is the amount of money that a company's owner has put into it or owns. On a company's balance sheet, the difference between its liabilities and assets shows how much equity the company has. The share price or a value set by valuation experts or investors is used to figure out the equity value.

What is the perfect example of equity? ›

Equity is providing a taller ladder on one side, or propping the tree up so it's at an angle where access is equal for both people. A line of people of different heights are watching an event from behind a fence. Equality is giving each person a box to stand on to get a better view.

How do you make money from equity? ›

You can convert equity to cash through either a sale or a loan, which can then be used in multiple ways, including investments in stocks, bonds, real estate, and business opportunities. By converting equity to opportunity, you can grow your total assets and sources of income.

How do equities make money? ›

Stocks work like this: Companies sell shares in their business, also known as stocks, to investors. Investors buy that stock, which in turn provides the companies money for expanding their business through creating new products, hiring more employees or other business initiatives.

Which equity is best to buy? ›

Top 10 Large Cap Oriented Equity Schemes (Direct)
Fund Name1-Year Returns3-Year Returns
HDFC Growth Fund14.18%13.45%
SBI Blue Chip Fund13.38%13.44%
ICICI Prudential Focused Bluechip Equity Fund16.02%13.23%
ICICI Prudential Top 100 Fund8.85%11.98%
6 more rows

Is it safe to invest in equity? ›

The biggest risk of investing in equities is that the price of your holding can fall. Thus, if you sell at that time, you incur a loss. However, if you are a long term investor, this risk becomes lower. How can I lower equity risk?

Are equity funds safe? ›

Equities and equity-based investments such as mutual funds, index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are risky, with prices that fluctuate on the open market each day. 2 Taking regular losses in a managed and disciplined way is essential to any stock trading plan.

Is equity considered income? ›

Many of these workers receive equity pay as part of their compensation package (such as stock options). One common form of equity compensation is treated as ordinary income, meaning employers must withhold a portion of the stock to pay state income tax.

What is an example of equity investment risk? ›

The risks of investing in equity include share price falls, receiving no dividends or receiving dividends lower in value than expected. They also include the risk that a company restructure may make it less profitable. Alternatively a company may fail.

Is equity income taxable? ›

Taxes are another important consideration. Investors must pay taxes on equity income received from stock and fund investments regardless of whether or not the distributions are reinvested.

What does 30% equity mean? ›

You'd own 30% of the company and should get that much of the proceeds after expenses and liabilities once there was an equity event (sell, go public, etc). Typically equity comes into play as distributions of profit. You get paid based on the percentage of distributed profit.

What is an example of equity in your life? ›

In the real world, equity often means providing different resources or opportunities to different people, depending on their needs. For example, an equitable education system might provide additional support to students from low-income families or students with disabilities.

What does 10% equity mean? ›

So, if the entrepreneur is asking $100,000 with 10% equity, $100,000 is 10% of the company's valuation — which in this case is $1 million ($100,000 x 10). This is where the sharks usually ask how much the company made in the prior year. The valuation is then divided by that amount.

What does it mean when a company gives you equity? ›

Equity compensation also known as share-based or stock-based compensation, is a type of non-cash pay that a company offers to employees to partake in ownership of the firm, whether it's a private or public company.

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