stockholders' equity

American  

noun

1. the net assets of a corporation as owned by stockholders in capital stock, capital surplus, and undistributed earnings.

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Example Sentences

The Peoria, Illinois-based company has debt amounting to more than twice stockholders’ equity.

From BusinessWeek • May 1, 2011

It must achieve a 30 percent return on stockholders’ equity in its latest fiscal year, and show 30 percent average annual earnings growth over the past five years.

From BusinessWeek • Apr. 10, 2011

In 2010 it posted a return on stockholders’ equity of almost 24 percent.

From BusinessWeek • Mar. 27, 2011

Chase Manhattan has loans totaling $2.5 billion to the two countries, 77% of stockholders' equity, and New York's Citicorp, which refuses to confirm the exact figures, has a reported $4 billion, or 85%.

From Time Magazine Archive

The President's economic advisers figured that, even at present price levels, steelmen would net a comfortable 7% to 15% of stockholders' equity in the months ahead.

From Time Magazine Archive