What is the difference between Class A and Class C shares?

• Class A shares generally have more voting power and higher priority for dividends, while Class B shares are common shares with no preferential treatment. • Class C shares can refer to shares given to employees or alternate share classes available to public investors, with varying restrictions and voting rights.

What is a Class C Stock?

Some companies create a separate class of stock, Class C stock, that comes without voting rights and that may be less expensive than other classes. Typically, these shares are held by founders or company executives. Their stock may have outsize voting rights and may also have restrictions on the ability to sell the shares.

What's the difference between a stock and a share Class?

The two stocks seem nearly identical, with only slight differences in their price per share, but they have one important distinction: share class. "Companies use share classes to assign rights and privileges to certain shareholders," says Steven Greiner, managing director of Schwab Equity Ratings ® at the Schwab Center for Financial Research.