How does the performance of the stock market affect individual businesses? (2024)

Thestock marketaffects individual businesses in an economy in many different ways. In the United States there are just under 4,000 publicly-traded stocks that can be divided broadly into 11 global industry classifications (GICS). With daily movements across the board, there can be a multitude of effects.

Many analysts often zero in on the S&P 500 Index as a barometer for market performance overall and as such as one of the most influential drivers. Here we will look at two of the most basic affects for businesses: 1) consumer spendingand 2) business operations.

The Stock Market and the Economy

Defined as the market in whichequityshares of publicly-traded businesses are bought and sold, the stock market measures the aggregate value of allpublicly-traded companies. Comprehensively, this can be represented by the Wilshire 5000, but generally, most . Both indexes can be valuable tools for gauging the health of the overall economy, though occasionally stocks may be misleading.

Typically, the stock market and economic performance are aligned. Thus, when the stock market is performing well, it is usually a function of a growing economy. Economic growth can be measured in several ways, but one of the most prominent is by following gross domestic product (GDP).

How does the performance of the stock market affect individual businesses? (1)

When GDP is growing, individual businesses are producing more and usually expanding. Expanding business activity usually increases valuations and leads to stock market gains.

Historically, steep market declines preceded theGreat Depressionin the 1930s as well asthe Great Recessionof 2007–2009. However, some marketcrashes, most famously Black Monday in 1987, were not followed by recessions.

The Stock Market and Consumer Spending

Often, consumers spend more duringbull marketsbecause they are making more from the effects of a strong economy and also feel wealthier when they see theirportfoliosrise in value. Duringbear markets, the economy is usually not doing as well and spending recedes. A simultaneous fall in stock values also creates fear for the loss ofwealthandpurchasing poweras the value of investments contracts.

A rising stock market is usually aligned with a growing economy and leads to greater investor confidence. Investor confidence in stocks leads to more buying activity which can also help to push prices higher. When stocks rise, people invested in theequity markets gain wealth. This increased wealth often leads to increased consumer spending, as consumers buy more goods and services when they're confident they are in a financial position to do so. When consumers buy more, businesses that sell those goods and services choose to produce more and sell more, reaping the benefit in the form of increasedrevenues.

Stock market losses erode wealthin both personal and retirement portfolios. A consumer who sees his portfolio drop in value is likely to spend less. This reduction in spending negatively affects businesses--particularly ones that sell non-necessity goods and services, such as luxury cars and entertainment, that customers can live without when money is tight.

The Stock Market and Business Operations

The stock market's movements can impact companies in a variety of ways. The rise and fall of share price values affects a company’s market capitalization and therefore its market value. The higher shares are priced, the more a company is worth in market value and vice versa. The market value of a company can be important when considering mergers and/or acquisitions that involve shares as part of the deal.

Share issuance decisions can also be affected by stock performance. If a stock is doing well, a company might be more inclined to issue more shares because they believe they can raise more capital at the higher value.

Stock market performance also affects a company’s cost of capital. Companies must average the costs of both their debt and equity capital when arriving at a weighted average cost of capital, which is used for many analysis scenarios. The higher the expected market performance, the higher the cost of equity capital will be. As cost of equity capital rises, present value calculations lower because companies must use a higher discounting rate.

Companies may also have substantial capital investments in their stock which can lead to problems if the stock falls. For example, companies may hold shares as cash equivalents or use shares as backing for pension funds. In any case, when shares fall, the value decreases, which can lead to funding problems.

Lastly, positive increases in stock values can also potentially generate new interests for a particular company or sector. This can possibly add to revenue growth from sales or attract investors.

How does the performance of the stock market affect individual businesses? (2024)

FAQs

How does the performance of the stock market affect individual businesses? ›

The stock market's movements can impact companies in a variety of ways. The rise and fall of share price values affects a company's market capitalization and therefore its market value. The higher shares are priced, the more a company is worth in market value and vice versa.

How does the stock market influence the finances of individuals? ›

The changes in the stock market usually affect all the citizens of a particular country. If the stock market is doing very well, people will put their money in the stock market and buy more shares; this creates more jobs for people; since the companies who deals in stocks will be able to employ more staff.

Why is the stock market so important to individuals? ›

The stock market is also where companies raise capital and from which investors can grow their wealth. It thus plays a vital role in the global economy. Even if you don't trade on the stock market directly, it influences the products you buy, the type of jobs available, and the retirement you might plan.

How can the stock market help the individual? ›

The stock market helps both businesses and investors by: Offering companies a place to raise money to help grow their business and the economy. Enabling individuals to choose from a wide range of investments and give their retirement savings a chance to grow in value over time.

How does the stock market benefit businesses? ›

The stock market helps companies raise money to fund operations by selling shares of stock, and it creates and sustains wealth for individual investors. Companies raise money on the stock market by selling ownership stakes to investors.

How does the performance of the stock market affect individual businesses and the country's economy? ›

The stock market impacts the economy because it influences consumer confidence, which in turn influences the overall economy. The relationship also works the other way, in that economic conditions often impact stock markets.

How does stock price impact a company? ›

The stock market's movements can impact companies in a variety of ways. The rise and fall of share price values affects a company's market capitalization and therefore its market value. The higher shares are priced, the more a company is worth in market value and vice versa.

How does the stock market affect everyone? ›

Each dollar of stock wealth increases spending by 32 cents in the economy. The recent rebound in equities contributed to $288 billion in consumer spending, potentially affecting GDP growth. Despite what you might read or hear, the stock market is not the economy.

Why do individuals not participate in the stock market? ›

These explanations include social and community effects (Hong, Kubik, & Stein, 2004 and Brown, Ivković, Smith, and Weisbenner (2008), a lack of financial awareness (Guiso & Jappelli, 2005), a lack of trust (Guiso, Sapienza, & Zingales, 2008), lack of financial literacy (Van Rooij, Lusardi and Alessie, 2011, Van Rooij, ...

How do market conditions affect a business? ›

The term 'market conditions' refers to the size of the market, the business's competitors, and the proportions of large and small businesses in the market. If a business is in a growing market, over time its aims and objectives may change to focus on growth.

How does investing benefit individuals? ›

Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value. The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return tradeoff.

Who benefits from the stock market? ›

Between 2019 and 2023, the youngest and oldest groups significantly increased their holdings of equities and mutual funds. As a result, “those under 40 saw a greater than 50% increase in the real value of their financial assets,” and those over 54 saw about a 20% increase, the report said.

What are the advantages of individual stocks? ›

Pros for single stocks in portfolios include reduced fees, understanding the taxes owed and paid, and an ability to better know the companies you own.

How does the stock market impact business? ›

Investment and Financing: The stock market raises company capital through share issuance. Companies require this capital to develop, expand, innovate, and boost production. Increased production capacity leads to job creation and economic growth.

What is the importance of stock in business? ›

Improves liquidity & cashflow

Good stock control improves the cashflow of a business and can help you release cash when you need it. Having a good understanding of what stock your business holds means that you can quickly know the value of the stock held, and also the value of your business.

Why is market share important to a business? ›

Market share is the percent of total industry sales a company has. The higher the market share, the more sales a company has than its competitors in their industry. Market share indicates how large a company is and how much influence it has in its industry. It can also be an indicator of growth and success.

What is the role of a stock market in the financial system? ›

Stock markets, or equities markets, are used by companies to raise capital and by investors to search for returns. Stocks may be traded on listed exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, or the over-the-counter (OTC) market.

What is the stock market in personal finance? ›

The stock market is a financial marketplace that matches those who want to buy securities with those who want to sell them. People invest in the stock market with the expectation of earning returns from price appreciation and dividends. You can get started investing in the stock market with a brokerage account.

How does the stock market make people money? ›

Stocks are shares of ownership in publicly traded companies. Companies issue them on stock exchanges to raise money, at which point investors buy and sell them based on their potential to go up in value or pay dividends. Buying and holding stocks can help you grow your wealth and reach your long-term financial goals.

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