Outstanding Shares

An analysis of treasury stock defining how share buybacks work, the difference between retired and treasury shares, and specific scenarios where startups hold their own equity.

Authorized shares are the maximum stock a company can legally issue. This guide breaks down the difference between authorized and issued shares for strategic startup planning.

Fully diluted shares represent the total equity count if all convertibles exercised. This metric is crucial for understanding true ownership and negotiating investor term sheets.

Understand market capitalization, how it differs from startup valuation, and why it matters for benchmarking and planning your eventual exit strategy.