What is a company's issued shares count?

A company’s issued shares count includes any shares that a company has bought back from investors or employees and holds in its own treasury. A company's Articles of Incorporation authorizes the total number of shares that can be issued. Companies are not allowed to issue shares beyond this number.

What is the difference between issued and outstanding shares?

Issued shares represent all the stock a company has issued. Outstanding shares, meanwhile, are the shares circulating in the market owned by investors and available for them to trade. Often, the number of issued and outstanding shares will be the same.

What are issued shares & treasury shares?

Issued shares are a company's equity shares, held by investors and insiders and put in reserve for employee compensation. Unlike outstanding shares, issued shares factor in treasury shares—stock a company buys back from shareholders. The number of shares issued must be authorized and approved by a company's board of directors (BofD).