Holders of common stock receive certain benefits, such as a residual claim, which is the

right to share in any remaining assets after creditors have been paid off, should the company cease operations. A residual claim is one benefit that common stock holders can receive. This claim takes effect once the company itself is liquidated. The assets that are left upon liquidation are divided evenly, and the common stock holders receive a proportional part of the assets at liquidation. Among this, common stock holders receive dividends.