What is the capital raised by a corporation through the issuance of shares called?

The capital raised by a corporation through the issuance of shares is referred to as stocks. When a company issues shares, it is essentially selling ownership in the corporation to investors. In return for their investment, shareholders receive a claim on a portion of the company's assets and earnings. Stocks are a fundamental way for companies to raise equity capital, allowing them to fund operations, expand, and invest without incurring debt.

Understanding stocks as a means of raising capital highlights the nature of equity financing, which differs significantly from debt financing. While debt involves borrowing money that must later be repaid with interest, equity financing through stocks does not require repayment, as investors take on the risk of the investment and can potentially enjoy capital appreciation and dividends.

Other options, such as capital gains, refer to the profit from the sale of an asset rather than a method of capital raising. Similarly, debt financing involves loans or bonds and not equity ownership, and equity bonds, despite their name, are typically a mix of debt and equity, which does not directly pertain to the issuance of shares. Therefore, stocks is the precise term that encompasses the issuance of shares to raise capital.