Beneficial owner

Beneficial Owner

As used for most purposes under the federal securities laws. A beneficial owner of stock is any person or entity with sole or shared power to vote or dispose of the stock. This SEC definition is intended to include a holder who enjoys the benefits of ownership although the shares may be held in another name.

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beneficial owner

The owner of a security registered in another name. For example, investors often leave securities in trust with their brokerage firms. Although the brokerage firm is shown on the issuer's books as the owner of record, the investor is the beneficial owner.

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Beneficial owner. When your stocks are registered in street name, the brokerage firm has title to the stocks but you are the beneficial owner, or the person who actually benefits from owning the stock.