Stocks, by definition, are securities that represent shares of ownership within a company. Companies usually sell shares of stocks if they want to raise money to grow or develop their business. From an investor’s point of view, purchasing stocks could give you a way to grow your wealth. Supply and demand drive the price of shares, which usually means that the more people who’re selling the same type of stocks, the lower the price. Conversely, the more people buying the stock, the higher the price. You can then choose to sell your stock for a profit.