stockholder of record: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Financial, Legal
Quick answer
What does “stockholder of record” mean?
An individual or legal entity officially registered on a company's books as the owner of its shares at a specific date.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An individual or legal entity officially registered on a company's books as the owner of its shares at a specific date.
A term used in corporate governance to identify shareholders entitled to receive dividends, vote at meetings, or receive official communications based on a set cut-off date (the record date).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'shareholder of record' is a more common equivalent, though 'stockholder of record' is understood. 'Stockholder' is distinctly American in this context.
Connotations
Identical legal and procedural connotations in both contexts.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American financial and corporate texts. In UK contexts, 'shareholder on the register' or 'registered shareholder' is typical.
Grammar
How to Use “stockholder of record” in a Sentence
The [dividend] will be paid to the stockholder of record [on/as of] [date].[Entity] is listed as the stockholder of record for [number] shares.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in investor relations, dividend announcements, and proxy statements to determine eligibility for corporate actions.
Academic
Appears in finance, corporate law, and governance literature discussing shareholder rights and administrative processes.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation; restricted to formal investment contexts.
Technical
A precise term in securities administration, crucial for defining entitlements relative to a record date.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stockholder of record”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stockholder of record”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stockholder of record”
- Using it interchangeably with 'investor' or 'shareholder' without specifying the 'record date' context.
- Incorrect: 'I am a stockholder of record of Tesla.' (Correct only if referring to status on a specific, relevant date).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The stockholder of record is the name on the company's register. For shares held through a broker, the broker's nominee name is often the record holder, while the investor is the beneficial owner.
Yes, whenever shares are officially transferred and the register is updated, the stockholder of record changes to the new owner.
The stockholder of record is the legal owner listed on the company's books. The beneficial owner is the person who enjoys the economic benefits of ownership, even if their name is not on the register (common with broker-held shares).
The status of 'stockholder of record' is meaningless without a specific record date. It is a snapshot of ownership on that exact date, used to assign rights like dividends or voting.
An individual or legal entity officially registered on a company's books as the owner of its shares at a specific date.
Stockholder of record is usually formal, technical, financial, legal in register.
Stockholder of record: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɒkˌhəʊldər əv ˈrekɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɑːkˌhoʊldɚ əv ˈrekɚd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the books as a stockholder of record”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a company's official record book: the STOCKHOLDER whose name is written IN THE RECORD is the 'stockholder of record'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP AS A REGISTERED LIST (Being on 'the list' grants rights and benefits).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of identifying the 'stockholder of record'?