Investing What Are Outstanding Shares? By Paul Nolan Updated on November 18, 2021 Reviewed by Akhilesh Ganti Fact checked by Jess Feldman In This Article View All In This Article Definition and Examples of Outstanding Shares How Outstanding Shares Work Types of Shares Outstanding Shares vs. Treasury Shares What It Means for Individual Investors Photo: Westend61 / Getty Images Definition Outstanding shares are the total number of shares of a public company that are traded on the secondary market. This includes shares held by institutional investors (mutual funds, commercial banks, hedge funds, etc.), as well as any restricted shares that are issued to a company’s executives and public insiders. Key Takeaways Outstanding shares are the total number of shares of a company that are held and may be available on the secondary market.The outstanding shares total is used to calculate key financial metrics such as earnings per share and market capitalization.A company’s outstanding shares fluctuate due to a number of actions, including stock splits and stock buybacks.Outstanding shares differ from treasury shares, which are held by the company and are not available on the open market. Definition and Examples of Outstanding Shares Companies issue different types of shares of equity, the largest and most common type being common shares. Common shares represent ownership interest in a company, and they typically come with voting rights and cash flow (dividend) rights. The number of outstanding shares of common stock fluctuates frequently, increasing when companies issue additional shares to raise cash, initiate a stock split, or when employees exercise stock options. Total outstanding shares decrease if there is a reverse stock split or when a company buys back outstanding shares of its own stock. Let’s look at an example of the fluctuation of common stock. In May 2021, technology company Nvidia announced it would initiate a four-for-one stock split—its fifth split since the company went public in 1999—of its common stock. The board of directors decided this would make ownership more accessible to potential investors and employees. As a result, each Nvidia stockholder on record by June 21, 2021, received a dividend of three additional shares of common stock for every share held on the record date. How Outstanding Shares Work Public reports in which companies list the total outstanding shares include a quarterly or annual report or a balance sheet. These reports often can be found on a company’s investor relations page. Note You can also find information on a company’s total outstanding shares by searching the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System (EDGAR), which is operated by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). Why does the total number of outstanding shares matter? For starters, a company’s market capitalization is determined by multiplying the current market price of one share of the corporation by the total number of outstanding shares. Market capitalization is used to compare company sizes, which helps investors evaluate risk and potential growth. Types of Shares Companies may issue different classes of shares, the most common being “common” or “ordinary shares.” The different types of shares denote different rights for the shareholder. For example, shares may come with or without the power to vote on board appointees and other corporate matters. Depending upon the class of share, a shareholder may or may not have the right to receive dividend payments or participate in capital distribution upon dissolution of the company. Note Preferred shares don’t usually come with voting rights, but shareholders receive dividend payments before common stockholders do. Preferred shareholders also have priority over common shareholders if the company goes bankrupt and its assets are liquidated. Other differences between shares include the following. Outstanding Shares vs. Treasury Shares While outstanding shares of stock are those that can be purchased or sold on the secondary market, treasury shares are those that are held by the company and are not available in the open market. The total number of issued shares is the sum of the outstanding shares and the treasury shares. Outstanding Shares vs. Float A stock’s total outstanding shares help determine its liquidity, or how rapidly shares of that stock can be bought or sold without substantially impacting the price. The number of shares a company has available to trade in the open market is known as its float. To determine a stock’s float, subtract the number of shares that are held by a single party (a company founder, for example) or small group from the total shares outstanding. Note If a company has a low float, the stock is considered more volatile. It may be more difficult for a shareholder to sell shares quickly, thus taking a larger loss than desired if the stock price drops. Basic and Diluted Shares The total outstanding shares may be differentiated between basic and diluted shares. Basic shares are common shares available on the secondary market. Diluted shares are those with special classifications, such as preferred stock, stock options, or stock warrants. If a company reports diluted shares, it may indicate more shares will be added in the future. Authorized Shares vs. Shares Outstanding Authorized shares represent the maximum number of shares a company can issue. A company may authorize 5 million shares for an initial public offering, but only sell 4 million shares. The number of authorized shares is equal to or larger than the number of outstanding shares. What It Means for Individual Investors Knowing the number of outstanding shares a company has issued, as well as the types of shares, is all part of making smart investment decisions. Determining a company’s market capitalization and earnings per share are critical components of smart investors’ analysis process. To get there, you need to know the number of outstanding shares. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "NVIDIA Announces Four-for-One Stock Split,Pending Stockholder Approval at Annual Meeting Set for June 3." Accessed July 14, 2021.