capital stock (2024)

Capital stock, also known as authorized stock, refers to all common stock and preferred stock a corporation is legally allowed to issue. A corporation’s charter establishes the amount of shares the corporation may issue, and the board of directors can either issue the maximum amount or retain a portion of the shares. Corporations record capital stock in the equity section on their balance sheets. The amount of capital stock issuable by a company can be changed, but the process requires amending the corporate charter, usually involving difficult, expensive shareholder voting.

[Last updated in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

capital stock (2024)

FAQs

Capital stock? ›

Capital stock is issued by companies to raise capital. It is usually issued when companies are trying to fund their growth. They are made up of a combination of preferred and common stock. These are often sold to investors, who may benefit from dividend payments and strong appreciation as the business grows.

Who owns capital stock? ›

Capital stocks are the shares outstanding for a company. They may be purchased, and with them, an investor gains voting rights and sometimes dividends. Treasury stock, or treasury shares, are shares a company owns. They do not carry voting power and do not pay out dividends.

What is the capital stock of an economy? ›

26.1 Capital stock of a country is broadly referred to as that part of national wealth which is reproducible; it consists of all resources which contribute to the production of goods and services.

Why is capital a stock? ›

The primary purpose of capital stock is to raise capital for the company without incurring any debt. Thus, Capital stock does not increase the fixed cost of the company. It is generally utilized to raise capital and expand the business.

What is real capital stock? ›

The total physical capital at any given moment in time is referred to as the capital stock (not to be confused with the capital stock of a business entity). Capital goods, real capital, or capital assets are already-produced, durable goods or any non-financial asset that is used in production of goods or services.

Is capital stock the same as treasury stock? ›

Capital stock refers to the total number of shares that an organization is authorized to issue, whereas treasury stock represents the number of shares that an organization holds in its treasury. In essence, treasury stock constitutes the capital stock that has been bought back or never issued to the public.

Is capital stock the same as common stock? ›

Common stock - also called common shares, capital shares, or capital stock - represents units of ownership in a corporation.

What is another word for capital stock? ›

Definitions of capital stock. the maximum number of shares authorized under the terms of a corporation's articles of incorporation. synonyms: authorized shares, authorized stock.

Is capital stock debit or credit? ›

As per the golden rules all expenses and losses are debit whereas all incomes and gains are credit. Thus, increase in capital stock will increase the equity section which indicates that the change in capital stock account would be recorded as credit.

What increases capital stock? ›

Stock corporations typically effect a capital increase through the issue of new shares. A resolution authorising the capital increase must be approved by the annual general meeting.

Why do companies issue capital stock? ›

Companies issue shares to the public to raise money. They initially sell a set number of shares to investors, and then those same shares can be traded among investors on a secondary market. Issued shares are those that the founders or BofD have decided to sell in exchange for cash.

How to cash in capital stock? ›

You can cash them in through the transfer agent of the company with which the stock is owned. Or, you can work with a broker to sell the stock. Research the value of the stock to know whether you are holding on to fortune in cash or simply a pretty, collectible piece of paper.

Is capital stock the same as capital? ›

The entire share capital (including equity capital and preference capital) that a corporation has issued is known as capital stock. It is a way for the corporation to raise money in order to achieve its many corporate objectives. The "shareholder's equity column" on the balance sheet contains the same information.

What are the different types of capital stock? ›

The two types of capital stock are common stock and preferred stock.

Is capital a good investment? ›

Capital investment has its own disadvantages. While capital investment is made to improve a company's cash flow in operations, it may sometimes be insufficient to cover the expected costs. In such cases, the company could be forced to borrow funds from an external financier to cover for the miscalculations.

What is capstock in finance? ›

Capital Stock (Capstock) refers to the share base of the fund. that means the number of shares held by the Investors.

Who runs the Capital Group? ›

BIOS. Timothy D. Armour is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Group. Over his 40-year career, Tim has been dedicated to Capital's mission of improving people's lives through successful investing, a mission shared by more than 9,000 associates around the globe.

Who is the largest shareholder of Capital One? ›

BlackRock, Inc. Richard Fairbank is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Capital One. He is the company's largest individual shareholder, with a 1.11% stake in the company. The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and Dodge & Cox are the largest institutional shareholders, with a combined 24.85% stake in the company.

Is Capital One publicly owned? ›

When did Capital One first become a public company? On November 16, 1994, the Company completed its initial public offering of 11.5 percent of its common stock outstanding.

Who is the CEO of Capital Group? ›

Gitlin. Mike Gitlin is president and chief executive officer of Capital Group. He is also the chair of the Capital Group Management Committee.

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