> Let's say you think there is a pandemic coming and you invest in mask manufacturers. They use your investment I generally invest in exchange listed companies

> Let's say you think there is a pandemic coming and you invest in mask manufacturers. They use your investment I generally invest in exchange listed companies. When I invest, I'm buying from someone else, not from the company. They already got paid when they floated. They're not seeing a dime through exchange trade unless they make more shares available, diluting everyone else's investment in the process. So when I invest, someone else gets paid. They may get paid or less than they paid when they bought, but they're getting paid. Not the company I invested in.