Investment | Meaning and Definition

What is the meaning of investment?

Investment is put into something with the expectation of gaining more value from it in the future. It can be an item, property, product, or another asset. The key element is that the individual expects to get more value from it in the future. For example, if someone buys a home as an investment, they expect to receive rental income from it and any appreciation in the home’s value. The utilized asset is usually not consumed but rather maintained to produce future riches.

Benefits of Investment

There are three main types of investments: ownership, lending, and cash equivalents.

•   Ownership Investments involve buying a percentage ownership stake in a company or enterprise. This could be by buying stock shares on the open market or investing in private equity or venture capital. When you own an investment, you’re entitled to a portion of the profits (or losses) generated by that company or enterprise.
•   Lending Investments involve loaning money to another person or company for interest payments. The most common type of lending is a bond, which is simply a loan packaged into a security and sold to investors. When you buy a bond, you’re essentially loaning money to the issuer for regular interest payments.
•   Cash Equivalents are investments that can be quickly converted into cash. The most common cash equivalent type is a money market fund, which invests in short-term debt instruments like Treasury bills and commercial paper.

Overall, investing in good channels is helpful for the future.