Investors understand that the shares they hold are stakes in that underlying company's success or failure. Nevertheless, investors also understand that the company's success or failure -- or potential -- isn't always reflected in that stock's price. That's something Amazon (AMZN +1.21%) founder Jeff Bezos was forced to accept early on. The fundamentals of the business can be disconnected... the stock price is [only] an output that you actually have very little control over." He's even said in the past that lucky timing and unexpected developments can play a big role in a young company's success or failure.