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Share class

A share class is a category of equity or fund shares with specified voting, economic, fee, conversion, or distribution rights.

By Betta Signals Research Desk · Reviewed October 24, 2026

Plain-English definition: A share class is a category of equity or fund shares with specified voting, economic, fee, conversion, or distribution rights.[1][2]

How the term is used

Company classes may have different voting power or liquidity. Fund classes can hold the same portfolio while charging different expenses or sales loads.[1][3]

What to check before relying on it

Verify the exact class, identifier, conversion terms, votes, fees, and shares outstanding. Provider-specific ticker formats must be mapped explicitly rather than silently normalized.

Example

Berkshire Hathaway Class A and Class B represent interests in the same company but have different prices and voting economics; BRK.B should not be treated as an interchangeable text alias.

StockMutual fundMarket capitalization

Research last reviewed: October 24, 2026. This definition is educational and does not evaluate a particular security.

Sources

  1. FINRA: Stocks — stock ownership, risks, dividends, and market terminology. Accessed October 24, 2026.
  2. Investor.gov: Share Classes — fund share classes with different fees and sales arrangements. Accessed October 24, 2026.
  3. FINRA: Mutual Funds — fund structure, NAV, expenses, distributions, and share classes. Accessed October 24, 2026.