Which statement best describes treasury stock and its accounting treatment?

• A. Treasury stock is a company's own shares repurchased; recorded as a contra-equity account reducing total stockholders’ equity; not outstanding.
• B. Treasury stock represents shares held by public investors and increases outstanding shares.
• C. Treasury stock is issued but not yet sold and increases paid-in capital.
• D. Treasury stock increases assets when repurchased.

Answer: (A)

Treasury stock focuses on shares a company has repurchased with the intention of possibly reissuing them later. On the balance sheet, these shares are not treated as assets. instead, they sit in a contra-equity account that reduces total stockholders’ equity. They are recorded at the cost the company paid to repurchase, not at current market value, and they are not considered outstanding shares. While held as treasury stock, the shares do not carry voting rights or receive dividends, and the accounting reflects a reduction in equity, not an increase in assets.

When treasury shares are later reissued, any amount received above the cost is typically credited to additional paid-in capital related to treasury stock, while any shortfall against cost can reduce retained earnings if there isn’t enough APIC from treasury stock to absorb it. This contrasts with statements that treasury stock represents shares held by public investors and increases outstanding shares, or that it is issued but not yet sold and increases paid-in capital, or that repurchasing treasury stock increases assets.