Stock life insurance companies are owned by which of the following?

Stock life insurance companies are indeed owned by shareholders. These companies are structured similarly to public corporations, where ownership is represented by shares of stock. Shareholders are those who have invested capital in the company by purchasing these shares, which gives them a claim on the company's profits, usually in the form of dividends.

The fundamental distinction lies in the ownership structure of different types of insurance companies. In contrast, mutual insurance companies are owned by policyholders, which means the policyholders share in the profits or losses and may receive dividends based on the company's performance.

This difference in ownership reflects how profits are distributed. In stock life insurance companies, profits may be reinvested into the company or distributed to shareholders, whereas mutual insurers typically return profits to policyholders through dividends or reduced premiums. Understanding this ownership structure is crucial for comprehending how stock life insurance companies operate and the financial interests of their owners.