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Owner's Equity

Moneyzine Editor
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Moneyzine Editor
1 mins
September 20th, 2023
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Definition

The financial accounting term owner's equity is used to describe the resources that are owned by the common and preferred stock shareholders of a company. Owner's equity is reported on a company's balance sheet.

Calculation

Owner's Equity = Assets - Liabilities

Explanation

Also known as shareholders equity and the net worth of a company, owner's equity is considered a "residual" claim against the assets of a company since the claims of creditors must be satisfied before those of the owners. Increases in owner's equity can come from two sources:

  • Initial, and any additional, investments or purchases of common and preferred stock by the owners of the company

  • Excess earnings (retained earnings) resulting from the profitable operation of the company

The subsections appearing in the owner's equity portion of the balance sheet include:

  • Preferred Stock: holders are entitled to the payment of dividends before common stockholders, but normally have no voting rights.

  • Common Stock: equity owners in a company, entitled to dividends as well as voting rights.

  • Retained Earnings: includes those profits not paid out as dividends.

  • Treasury Stock: stock reacquired by the corporation, which can be resold or retired.

Owner's equity is one of the three major divisions of the balance sheet, the other sections being liabilities and assets.

Example

The table below illustrates the format for the owner's equity section of the balance sheet.

Owner's Equity
Preferred Stock$0
Common Stock$9,000
Retained Earnings$28,348,000
Treasury Stock-$11,679,000
Capital Surplus$3,767,000
Other Stockholder Equity-$5,025,000
Total Owner's Equity$15,420,000

Related Terms

balance sheet, assets, liabilities, preferred stock, retained earnings, drawing account, financial statements, statement of retained earnings, additional paid-in capital, sources of equity

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