The value investors assign to a company's shares reflects their expectations about its future profitability. This indicates that when investors decide how much they are willing to pay for a share, they are effectively voting on the company's potential success. Their assessments take into account various factors, including management quality, product attractiveness, and market opportunities.

Niall Ferguson, in "The Ascent of Money," suggests that stock markets function like continuous polls that gauge public opinion about a company's viability. Each transaction represents an evaluation not just of current performance, but also of future opportunities, making the stock market a dynamic reflection of economic sentiment.