I see a lot of discussion villifying corporations. Who owns corporations?

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:11:38 -0500

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 10:17 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:17:07 -0500

The 1%. lol at least that will how the liberal try to say.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 12 at 2016 10:34 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:34:16 -0500

If folks looked at their mutual fund holdings or what their pension fund invests in, I bet many would realize for the 1st time ever, THEY are owners (stock holders) of many of the publically traded corporations.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Feb 12 at 2016 11:03 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:03:11 -0500

1) Private corporations are owned by individuals, who represent the only shareholders.
2) Public corporations (generally the largest), are owned by all shareholders. That's either by people who directly or indirectly invest in them. So if you have a retirement account, it is likely invested in many corporations and you are effectively one of its many owners. Similarly if you have a pension account somewhere, they invest heavily in public markets, and you are a corporate owner by the proxy through your pension fund.

Many people also directly have a stake in a corporation by buying stock in companies (or mutual funds) through an investment account.

In short, people own corporations, including pretty much anybody who has a retirement or an investment account.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 12 at 2016 11:39 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:39:27 -0500

How do corporations behave?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 12 at 2016 12:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 12:20:46 -0500

Hmmm Enron accounting scandal, Volkswagon emmissions scandal, Corporate leaders skimming the profits or overstating profits, Giving bribes, Auto makers who look at the probability of death as cheaper than a recall. British Petroleum. This does not include corporations in some countries abusing labor, land, rivers, and seas. Corporations are more than just economic machines, they should be good stewards of the world.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 12:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 12:27:53 -0500

Corporations exist for one reason and one reason only - to make a profit for their shareholders.
People too often lose sight of that.
Those companies behaving "responsibly"? Just working the PR.
The ones that give back to the community? Look closely. It is often the product of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) deal they had with the city or state. It is a contingency in order to secure a tax break.
Want to get mad at the big oil companies for making lots of money while you pay for $3 gasoline? If you are a shareholder (as I am), you are pretty pleased with the risks they took to secure additional supplies and keep the engines of the economy going and returning a tidy profit besides.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 12 at 2016 12:48 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 12:48:01 -0500

Corporations are typically owned in a composite format although some families have a complete ownership of their respective organization. It all depends on how the corporation was set up.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 13 at 2016 7:46 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 19:46:43 -0500

CDR Michael Goldschmidt I do, at least a portion of a few that is.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 14 at 2016 9:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 21:34:04 -0500

Warren Buffet