capital stock

American  

noun

1. the total stock authorized or issued by a corporation.

2. the book value of the outstanding shares of a corporation, including retained earnings and amounts paid in by stockholders.

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capital stock British  

noun

1. the par value of the total share capital that a company is authorized to issue

2. the total physical capital existing in an economy at any moment of time

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Etymology

Origin of capital stock

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

A larger capital stock will support productivity gains and boost wages and employment over time.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

“This shift, coupled with reduced short-term investment due to increased economic uncertainty, leads to a decline in the capital stock of 0.6% in 2030 and nearly 10% in 2054,” Wharton’s team noted.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

One reason is what he called "capital stock turnover."

From Scientific American • Mar. 21, 2023

A subsequent share exchange will dilute the company's current capital stock to less than 0.01% of its capital after the restructure.

From Reuters • Mar. 15, 2022

From the subsidy bonds received from government, or from some other and unknown source, the Credit Mobilier, in the year 1867, reported a paid-up capital stock of $3,750,000, and were ready for extensive operations.

From Monopolies and the People by Cloud, D. C.