Definitions for "Issued Shares"
The shares of a company that have been allotted to shareholders. Compare Authorised Capital. Contrast Issued Capital.
Refers to the authorized shares of a corporation that have actually been issued to one or more shareholders. Each share certificate is completed to specify the number of shares being issued and the name of the shareholder to whom the shares are being issued.
Issued shares refers to the number of shares that are currently owned by investors. This includes restricted shares (shares owned by the company's officers and insiders) and shares held by the public. Shares that the company has repurchased are not considered outstanding stock. This number is more important than the authorized shares or float because it is used in the calculation of many metrics including market capitalization and earnings per share (EPS). These shares are also known as "outstanding shares" or "issued and outstanding".