Buy shares is the esiest way to invest money. By buying an action you get hold of a share in a company's capital.
And you participate in company profits through dividend, if the company decides to distribute it, in case there are any profits.
If the company is at a loss, nothing is received. The shares can be ordinary, privilege and savings. With savings shares you are entitled to a higher dividend than ordinary shares.
But there is no right to vote in ordinary and extraordinary meetings.
With the privileged also but do not have the right to vote in the ordinary assembly, but only in the extraordinary one. Small savers once preferred these last two categories of titles.
Not only because they obtained a higher return, but also because the dividend was cumulative. Cumulation is expected in case of non-distribution of dividends.
Moreover, when the company decided to remove the privileged or savings shares from the market, because it was not very liquid, the shareholder received ordinary shares in exchange.

Most investors just buy shares without consider some factors and this sometimes lead to the loss of their money invested on shares. Here are some factors to be consider before buying shares: percentage of dividend, terms, profile of company. It is important to read more on investment or consult stock brokers before buying shares for better advice. Note that dividend varies with time.