
Treasury stock is a type of stock that a company buys back from its own shareholders, essentially reducing the total number of outstanding shares.
This can be a strategic move to increase earnings per share, return value to shareholders, or even to prevent a hostile takeover.
A company may repurchase its own stock to reduce the number of shares available in the market, which can help increase the value of the remaining shares.
Treasury stock is not considered an asset in accounting, but rather a contra-equity account that represents the par value of the shares repurchased.
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What is Treasury Stock?
Treasury stock is a type of stock that a company owns itself, meaning it's not held by shareholders.
Companies can buy back their own shares through treasury stock, which is often done to reduce the number of outstanding shares and increase earnings per share.
This can be a strategic move to boost investor confidence and stock price, as seen in the example of a company buying back shares to offset the dilution caused by employee stock options.
Treasury stock is typically recorded on the balance sheet as a contra equity account, which means it's subtracted from the total equity of the company.
The value of treasury stock can be either the cost of the shares or the market value, whichever is lower.
Types of Stock
There are two main types of stock: treasury stock and capital stock.
Treasury stock refers to shares of a company's own stock that have been repurchased from the open market and are held by the company itself.
These shares are no longer outstanding and do not carry voting rights or receive dividends.
A company might repurchase its own stock when it perceives its stock as undervalued or as part of a strategic move to manipulate its capital structure.
Here's a summary of the key differences between treasury stock and capital stock:
Treasury stock is recorded as a contra-equity account on the balance sheet, reducing shareholders' equity.
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Share Buybacks
Share buybacks are a way for companies to reduce the number of outstanding shares by buying back existing shares from the market or from shareholders.
By reducing the number of outstanding shares, the company can increase the value of each remaining share, which can be beneficial for existing shareholders.
Share buybacks can be funded by a company's retained earnings or by issuing new debt.
The company's treasury stock account is increased when shares are repurchased, as the shares are taken out of circulation.
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Understanding Stock
Treasury stock is actually a type of stock that a company has repurchased from the open market and is holding itself.
Treasury stock is no longer outstanding and doesn't carry voting rights or receive dividends. It's often repurchased when a company thinks its stock is undervalued or as part of a strategic move.
Here are some key points to keep in mind about treasury stock:
- Treasury stock refers to shares of a company's own stock that have been repurchased from the open market and are held by the company itself.
- These shares are no longer outstanding and do not carry voting rights or receive dividends.
- Often repurchased when a company perceives its stock as undervalued or as part of a strategic move to manipulate its capital structure.
- Recorded as a contra-equity account on the balance sheet, reducing shareholders' equity.
Treasury stock reduces shareholder equity and is not considered when calculating dividends or earnings per share (EPS).
Securities Origin
Treasury stocks are shares that companies originally issued but later repurchased. This can happen when a company wants to reduce its outstanding shares or buy back shares from investors.
Capital stock represents the total shares a company is authorized to issue, including both outstanding shares and treasury stock. This encompasses all classes of shares, including common and preferred shares.
To break it down, capital stock is made up of:
- Outstanding shares held by investors
- Treasury stock, which is the company's own repurchased shares
- Common and preferred shares, which are different classes of ownership
Capital stock serves as a means for companies to raise capital by issuing shares to investors. It appears in the shareholders' equity section of the balance sheet, reflecting the total ownership interest in the company.
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What is Stock?

Stock is essentially a unit of ownership in a company, representing a claim on a portion of its assets and profits. It's a way for companies to raise capital by selling shares to investors.
There are different types of stock, but one key distinction is between treasury stock and capital stock. Treasury stock refers to shares that have been repurchased by the company from the open market and are held by the company itself.
Here are some key facts about treasury stock:
- Treasury stock is recorded as a contra-equity account on the balance sheet, reducing shareholders' equity.
- These shares are no longer outstanding and do not carry voting rights or receive dividends.
- Treasury stock is often repurchased when a company perceives its stock as undervalued or as part of a strategic move to manipulate its capital structure.
Treasury stock is not considered when calculating earnings per share or the company's dividends. It's essentially a way for companies to buy back their own shares, but it doesn't give them any new rights or privileges.
Return Only Stocks
Treasury stock is not an asset, but rather a contra-equity account that reduces shareholders' equity. This means it's not something you can hold onto and expect to generate value.
To illustrate this, let's look at the basic accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity. In this equation, equity is represented by outstanding shares minus treasury stock.

When you buy treasury stock, you're essentially buying back shares from existing shareholders, which reduces the total amount of equity in the company. This can be a strategic move, but it's not an asset that can be used to generate revenue.
Here's a simple breakdown of the accounting equation with treasury stock included:
In summary, treasury stock is a way to manage equity, but it's not an asset that can be used to generate value.
Key Concepts
Treasury stock is not considered an asset because it doesn't provide any dividends or voting rights to the company.
Treasury stock is recorded at its cost, not its face value, and is debited to the treasury stock account, a contra-equity account.
A company's treasury stock is listed in the shareholders' equity section as a contra account, and is represented as a negative number at the cost that the company paid to repurchase the shares.
Here are some key characteristics of treasury stock:
- Not counted as an outstanding share
- Does not provide dividends or voting rights
- Recorded at cost, not face value
- Represented as a negative number in shareholders' equity
- Decreases shareholders' equity when increased
Difference Between Outstanding Shares
Outstanding shares are a crucial concept in corporate finance, and understanding their differences with treasury stocks is vital. Outstanding shares are the total number of shares that are held by investors and are currently being traded in the market.
One key difference between outstanding shares and treasury stocks is that outstanding shares have voting rights. This means that shareholders of outstanding shares have a say in the company's decision-making process.
Treasury stocks, on the other hand, do not have voting rights. This is because treasury stocks are shares that have been repurchased by the company from investors.
Outstanding shares also receive dividends, whereas treasury stocks do not. This is because treasury stocks are essentially shares that the company is holding onto, rather than shares that are being traded in the market.
Here's a summary of the key differences between outstanding shares and treasury stocks:
These differences are important to understand, especially when analyzing a company's financial statements.
Key Takeaways

Treasury stock is a crucial concept in business and finance, and here are the key takeaways:
Treasury stock is not counted as an outstanding share, despite being owned by the company.
Treasury stock transactions should be accurately recorded in business accounting, and a treasury stock journal entry logs a company's transactions related to its own shares.
A company repurchases its own shares, decreasing the supply of stocks on the open market and potentially putting upward pressure on the stock's price.
Treasury stock is represented as a negative number in the shareholders' equity section at the cost that the company paid to repurchase the shares.
Here's a quick rundown of how treasury stock is recorded:
- Recorded at its cost, not its face value
- Debited to the treasury stock account, which is a contra-equity account
- Reduces the net assets and equity of the company
Treasury stock is not considered an asset because it doesn't provide any dividends or voting rights to the company. It is classified as a deduction from total stockholders' equity on a company's balance sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should treasury stock be reported?
Treasury stock is reported as a deduction from Stockholders' Equity at the end of the balance sheet. Its cost is recorded in the same section, providing a clear picture of the company's financial situation.
What type of account is a treasury stock?
Treasury stock is a contra equity account. It's recorded in the shareholders' equity section of the balance sheet.
Sources
- https://content.one.lumenlearning.com/financialaccounting/chapter/treasury-stock/
- https://www.edspira.com/treasury-stock/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/accounting/treasury-stock/
- https://www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/business-studies/intermediate-accounting/treasury-stock/
- https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/treasury-stock-shares/
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