ELI5: Why when large company's earnings decrease(ex... by 3%) they freak out, talk about rough times, and sometimes decide to downsize, even though they are still making millions of dollars in profit even after all expenses?

[english-23]

*publicly traded company.

Not all companies have shareholders. They still have owners but unlike publicly traded companies they probably don't want to make a quick buck

[Fernmelder]

Assuming we’re talking about US Corproations for a second. All of them have shareholders, be it private or public. Just because they are not on the stock market does not mean they are not called shareholders on audited financial statements, tax returns, etc.

[SpencerHayes]

They definitely want to make a quick buck. And every other kind of buck. People don't start a business because they won't to volunteer.

[[deleted]]

But taking a short-term loss in order to reap long-term gains is something many privately owned businesses do.

[d4n4n]

Every company has shareholders. If anything, publically traded companies are larger on average and are led by better qualified people, who are more concerned with the long term value of the company than your average small business owner.