Public companies that don’t maximize profits will usually be targeted by activists who will replace the board and management with people who will max profits.

Public companies that don’t maximize profits will usually be targeted by activists who will replace the board and management with people who will max profits. Say a company exists that doesn’t aggressively pursue profits. It makes $1/year and is worth $10 per share. If it started maxing profits it could make $2/year and be worth $20/share. An activist can come in and continue to pay well above market price, knowing that once he acquires enough shares, he’ll replace the board and raise the value of the shares. The simple logic is that almost every public company will eventually evolve to maximize profit regardless of what other social mission they advertise. The sole exception is if a founder retains control of a very large proportion of voting stock.