
How to Calculate Outstanding Shares
- Check the Company’s Balance Sheet Start by checking the company’s balance sheet. ...
- Look at the Preferred Stock Line Item Once you’ve located the company’s balance sheet, find the line item for preferred stock. ...
- Look at the Common Stock Line Item Next, you’ll want to look for the common stock line item on the company’s balance sheet. ...
- Look at the Treasury Stock Line Item The next step is to find the treasury stock line item on the company’s balance sheet. ...
- Add the Preferred and Common Stock, Then Subtract the Treasury Shares Once you have collected the total number of preferred shares, common shares outstanding, and treasury shares, you’re ready ...
- Calculate the Weighted Average of Outstanding Shares As we’ve already seen, the number of a company’s outstanding shares can vary over time, sometimes fluctuating a great deal. ...
- Start Using the Outstanding Shares Calculation to Make Money
What is the number of shares of common stock outstanding?
The number of shares of common stock outstanding is a metric that tells us how many shares of a company are currently owned by investors. This can often be found in a company's financial statements, but is not always readily available -- rather, you may see terms like "issued shares" and "treasury shares" instead.
How do I calculate outstanding shares of stock?
You can calculate outstanding shares by: 1 Finding the company’s total number of preferred stock, common stock outstanding, and treasury stock. 2 Add the number of preferred stock and common stock outstanding, then subtract the number of treasury shares from that total. 3 Alternatively, you can calculate the weighted average of outstanding shares.
How to calculate common stock and preferred stock on balance sheet?
Step 1: Firstly, note from the balance sheet the number of common stock and preferred stock issued by the company. They are provided as a separate line item under equity capital. Step 2: Next, note the number of shares purchased back by the company over the period of time.

How do you find shares of common stock outstanding?
Look in the line item for common stock. This is the main class of stock that is issued to investors. There should be a statement within the line item description stating the number of shares outstanding.
What is common stock outstanding?
A company's shares outstanding (or outstanding shares) are the total number of shares issued and actively held by stockholders—both outside investors and corporate insiders.
What is the formula for calculating common stock?
Calculate Stock Value Add the preferred stock value and the value of paid-in capital on preferred stock. Then you'll calculate the common stock value. Add the total liabilities, the retained earnings and the preferred stock value. Subtract this amount from the total assets.
Why is it important to know what common stock is outstanding?
This figure is important because it's used to translate a company's overall performance into per-share metrics, which can make an analysis much easier to do in terms of a stock's market price at a given time.
What is the outstanding stock?
The outstanding stock is equal to the issued stock minus the treasury stock. All companies are required to report their common stock outstanding on their balance sheet. The easiest way to calculate the number is to simply look it up.
What does it mean when you buy stock?
When you buy stock in a company, you are buying a percentage ownership in that business. How much of the business your one share buys depends on the total common stock outstanding, a figure you can easily determine using the company's balance sheet. What common stock outstanding means, and why you should care.
What is the life of common stock?
The life of common stock goes through a few phases, and understanding each step is important for putting the common-stock-outstanding number into proper perspective. First, the board of directors authorizes the company to issue a certain number of shares. That initial figure is appropriately called "authorized" stock.
What happens when a company buys back its own stock?
When a company buys back its own shares, that stock is accounted for as "treasury stock" on the company's balance sheet.
What happens to the number of shares of a company?
The number of a company’s shares of common stock outstanding is the number of shares that investors currently own and has a direct effect on your ownership interest as a stockholder in the company . If the number of shares outstanding rises due to a company issuing additional shares, your percentage ownership will fall.
What is an issued stock?
Issued shares are the shares that the company has sold to investors, which includes the shares outstanding and shares it has repurchased as treasury stock. For example, assume a company has 10 million shares issued. 00:00.
What happens to your percentage of stock ownership if the number decreases?
If the number decreases, your percentage ownership will increase. A company typically lists its number of shares of common stock outstanding directly on its balance sheet in its “Stockholders’ Equity” section. If it doesn’t, you can calculate the number based on other information provided on the balance sheet.
Why do companies buy back shares?
A company may buy back shares if it believes its shares are undervalued or to reduce its number of outstanding shares. In this example, assume the company has 1 million shares of treasury stock. Subtract the number of shares of treasury stock from the number of issued shares to calculate the number of common shares outstanding.
What is the share outstanding formula?
What is the Shares Outstanding Formula? The term “shares outstanding” of a business refers to the number of authorized shares that are being either held by the promoters of the company or sold to the public shareholders while excluding the number of treasury stocks that have been bought back by the company itself.
How many common stock does a company have in 2018?
According to the balance sheet for the year 2018, the company has 5.0 million authorized common stock and 1.0 million authorized preferred stock, out of which it has issued 3.5 million common stock and 0.7 million preferred stock. During 2018, the company repurchased 0.3 million common stocks and 0.1 million preferred stocks.
What is common stock?
Common stock is the main class of stock that the company issues to investors. It is a security that represents ownership in a corporation. Investors who hold common stock exercise control by being able to vote on corporate policy and electing the company’s board of directors.
What is outstanding stock?
Outstanding stocks are the shares that are actually already out on the market. Read on to learn how to calculate outstanding shares. 1.
What is preferred stock?
Preferred stock is a special class of shares that is generally considered a hybrid instrument, including properties of both a debt and equity instrument. Preferred stocks are higher ranking than common stock, but also subordinate to bonds in terms of claim, or rights to their share of the company’s assets.
Can a company issue new shares?
As we’ve already seen, the number of a company’s outstanding shares can vary over time, sometimes fluctuating a great deal. A company could issue new shares, buy back shares, retire existing shares, or even convert employee options into shares.
Is the number of outstanding shares weighted?
Since the number of outstanding shares is an important component of a number of financial metrics, some analysts prefer to take a weighted average of outstanding shares instead of just capturing the total number of outstanding shares at a given moment in time.
What is common stock outstanding?
Common stock outstanding is the basis for determining which investors have the most votes and thus the largest influence at stockholders' meetings.
How to find outstanding shares of stock?
To use the first method for calculating outstanding shares of stock, look on the firm's balance sheet. The balance sheet can be found in the company's annual report, which is usually available on its investor relations website. The number of common shares outstanding may be listed. If so, no calculation is needed.
What does a reverse stock split do?
Stock splits of this type tend to reduce the per share price, making the shares more marketable. The number of outstanding shares may decrease at times. This will happen with a "reverse stock split.". Companies may also repurchase shares previously sold to investors.
What is par value in stock?
Typically, a stock par value serves as a minimum selling price during an initial public offering and has little significance afterward. However, you can calculate a reasonably accurate estimate of the number of shares outstanding using the stock's market price and market capitalization or "market cap.".
What is outstanding stock?
The Concept of Outstanding Stock. At any given time, a corporation has a specific number of shares authorized for sale. The shares actually sold are those that have been purchased by individual and institutional investors. These investors include company "insiders" and officers who own restricted shares.
Does Techwalla include treasury stock?
Brought to you by Techwalla. Brought to you by Techwalla. Outstanding shares do not include treasury stock, which means shares that the corporation has repurchased from investors. Preferred shares are also excluded.
Do you report shares outstanding quarterly?
Shares outstanding must be reported on quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It's not always convenient to access these resources, so it's helpful to learn a common shares outstanding formula. There are a couple of ways to calculate outstanding shares.

Shares Outstanding Formula – Example #1
Shares Outstanding Formula – Example #2
- Let us take the example of Walmart Inc.’s financial for the year 2016. The opening number of issued common stock for the year was 3,228 million, while the company repurchased 66 million stock during the year. Based on the given information, Calculate the number of shares outstanding of Walmart Inc. at the end of the year 2016. Solution: Shares Outs...
Shares Outstanding Formula – Example #3
- Let us take the example of Apple Inc.’ to explain slightly different kinds of calculations. During 2016, the company repurchased 279.61 million common stock and issued fresh 37.02 million common stock. Calculate the number of shares outstanding of Apple Inc. at the end of the year 2016 if the opening number of issued common stock for the year was 5,578.75 million. Solution…