what is a beneficial owner 
a beneficial owner is someone who controls or owns 25 or more of a reporting or public company and who has significant control over the company companies must report their beneficial owners and provide certain information about them 6the bottom lineyou probably own stock in a public company if you ve invested in a mutual fund or a pension plan because many plans and funds make use of this type of investment you can invest directly in such a company as well if you choose to do so in either case you and the other shareholders have an ownership stake in the company proportional to the amount of stock you ve purchased 