Dilution

Dilution (also known as stock or equity dilution) occurs when a company issues new stock which results in a decrease of an existing stockholder’s ownership percentage of that company. Stock dilution can also occur when holders of stock options, such as company employees, or holders of other optionable securities exercise their options. When the number of shares outstanding increases, each existing stockholder owns a smaller, or diluted, percentage of the company, making each share less valuable.