The total amount of stock currently in the hands of the public is referred to as the shares “outstanding.” Shares are sometimes bought back from stockholders and recorded as treasury stock. Thus, originally issued shares are not always still outstanding. According to the information provided, Kellogg has acquired over million treasury shares. Although not mentioned directly, Kellogg now has only 342 million shares of common stock outstanding in the hands of the stockholders (421 million issued less 79 million treasury shares). This number is important because it serves as the basis for dividend payments as well as any votes taken of the stockholders.
A stock dividend is when a company distributes additional shares to existing shareholders. Stock dividends are classified as either small (typically less than 20-25% of outstanding shares) or large (more than 20-25% of outstanding shares). Once set, the par value of stock remains fixed forever unless the issuing company executes a forward or reverse stock split to accumulated depreciation definition increase or decrease the number of its outstanding shares. Kellogg records the issuance of a share of $0.25 par value common stock for $67 in cash as follows3. Figure 14.5 shows what the equity section of the balance sheetwill reflect after the preferred stock is issued. The number of shares outstanding always equal to or less than the number of shares issued.
During negotiations, officials for Maine offer to issue ten thousand shares of $1 par value common stock for this property. The shares are currently selling on a stock exchange for $12 each. The investor decides to accept this proposal rather than go to the trouble of trying to sell the land.
However, the share capital account only holds the par value for the issued shares. Furthermore, this account doesn’t necessarily include the finance received from the issuance of shares. In the company as a corporation, we may issue the common stock for cash for expanding the business operation. Likewise, we need to make the journal entry for issuing the common stock in order to account for the increase in the capital section of the equity on the balance sheet.
On the other hand, if the stock price equal to the par value, only cash and common stock on the balance sheet will be affected as the result of the issuance of the stock. In either case, both total assets and total equity will increase in the issuance of the common stock journal entry. Common shares represent ownership in a company, and holders of common shares are entitled to a share of the company’s profits and assets.
Issue common stock is the process of selling the stock to the capital market. Only listed company can issue stock to the capital market and the investor will be able to purchase the share. Common stockholder will receive dividend when the company making good profit with the approval from board of director. Besides the dividend, the common shareholders can gain from the investment when the share price increase. They will be entitled to receive company assets in the event of liquidation after all creditors are settled. Recording the issuance of common stock is a critical accounting task that requires attention to detail and compliance with accounting standards.
It excludes the share that the company buyback from the market. The common stock will be classified as treasury stock after the company’s buyback from the market. A stock buyback or share buyback is the process that company decides to purchase its own stock from the capital market. The company may want to increase the share price by increase the demand by buying them back.
Sometimes companies buyback shares to be used for employee stock options or profit-sharingplans. Issuing common stock in exchange for a capital contribution has the advantage that unlike a loan, the business doesn’t have to pay back an equity investment. However, the investor who buys the stock has an ownership interest in the company, and the company has to make proper accounting entries in order to reflect the new capital contribution.
Price per share will decrease align with the number of share increases. The company needs to reverse the treasury stock with common stock and additional paid-in capital. The company needs to record cash consideration and reverse the treasury stock.
For example, Kellogg discloses a par value of $0.25 for its common stock, which is actually quite high. Many companies report par values that fall between a penny and a nickel. The balance sheet for Barnes & Noble shows a par value for its common stock of one-tenth of a penny. Common shares may also be referred to as common stock, ordinary shares, junior equity, or voting shares. At the time of the formation of the corporation, the market value of our common stock cannot be determined yet.
It is printed on the face of an old fashioned stock certificate and indicates (again depending on state law) the minimum amount of money that owners must legally leave in the business. Another situation that sometimes arises is that someone who loaned money to the business will agree to accept stock in repayment of the loan. In that case, no adjustment to the asset side of the balance sheet is necessary. Instead, the amount of debt that the company carries on the liability side of the balance sheet will go down, and the shareholders’ equity line item will rise in the same way as in the other cases. Outstanding shares are the total number of shares that the company issue to the market.