What does a corporation pay to its stockholders?

A corporation pays its stockholders primarily through dividends, which are cash payments or additional shares distributed based on the number of shares owned. Additionally, stockholders can benefit from capital gains, which occur when the value of the stock increases and they sell their shares at a profit. The decision to pay dividends and the amount is typically determined by the corporation's board of directors and is influenced by the company's profitability and financial strategy.