Final answer:
The document most commonly seen by a stock investor is a stock market statement or brokerage account statement, which details investments, capital gains or losses, and dividends. Investors expect returns from stocks in the form of dividends or capital gains, and the activity of picking winning stocks is inherently risky.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stock Investor Documents
The document that a stock investor most often sees is likely to be a stock market statement or a brokerage account statement. These statements summarize the investments held, any capital gains or losses, as well as received dividends. When a firm issues stock, investors expect a return, either through dividends or by selling their shares at a higher price than they bought them. This latter form of profit is known as a capital gain, such as buying a share at $45 and selling it later for $60, resulting in a $15 gain.
It is important to understand that actively trading in the stock market, such as trying to pick stocks that will greatly increase in value, carries risk and many investors do not consistently outperform the market. Thus, the average financial investor should be aware of the challenges and risks associated with attempting to predict market trends and stock movements.