Share class

Share class. Some stocks and certain mutual funds subdivide their shares into classes or groups to designate their special characteristics.

For example, the differences between Class A shares and Class B shares of stock may focus on voting rights, resale rights, or other provisions that enhance the power of certain shareholders.

In fact, in the United States, most dual class shares involve one class that is publicly traded and another class that is privately held.

In some overseas countries, Class A shares can be purchased by citizens only, while Class B shares can be purchased by noncitizens only.

In the case of mutual funds, class designations indicate the way that sales charges, or loads, are levied. Class A shares have front-end loads, Class B shares have back-end loads, also called contingent deferred sales charges, and Class C shares have level loads.