[S092]

stock insurance company

Insurance business transacted by an insurer whose ownership element is divided into shares of stock represented by certificates, as opposed to a mutual insurer which does not have capital stock and whose ownership element is divided among its policyholders. While a stock insurer has both stockholders (its owners) and policyholders (its customers), a mutual insurer has only policyholders (its owners and customers).

(See mutual insurance.)