Threat of takeover.Managerial compensation: Managerial compensation is constructed not only to retain competent managers, but to align managers' interests with those of stockholders as much as possible.Direct intervention by stock holders: Today, the majority of a company's stock is owned by large institutional investors, such as mutual funds and pensions. These large institutional stockholders have the ability to exert influence on managers and as a result the firms operations.Treat of Firing: If stockholders are unhappy with current management, they can encourage the existing board of directors to change the existing management, or stockholders may even re-elect a new board of directors that will accomplish the task.Threat of takeover: If a stock price deteriorates because of management's inability to run the company effectively, competitors or stockholders may take a controlling interest in the company and bring in their own managers.