The Collaborative International Dictionary
Treasury stock \Treas"ur*y stock\ (Finance) Issued stock of an incorporated company held by the company itself.
WordNet
n. stock that has been bought back by the issuing corporation and is available for retirement or resale; it is issued but not outstanding; it cannot vote and pays no dividends [syn: treasury shares, reacquired stock]
Wikipedia
A treasury stock or reacquired stock is stock which is also bought back by the issuing company, reducing the amount of outstanding stock on the open market ("open market" including insiders' holdings).
Stock repurchases are used as a tax efficient method to put cash into shareholders' hands, rather than paying dividends, in jurisdictions that treat capital gains more favorably. Sometimes, companies do it when they feel that their stock is undervalued on the open market. Other times, companies do it to reduce dilution from incentive compensation plans for employees. Another motive for stock repurchase is to protect the company against a takeover threat.
The United Kingdom equivalent of treasury stock as used in the United States is treasury share. Treasury stocks in the UK refers to government bonds or gilts.
Usage examples of "treasury stock".
But if you'll resign from Struan's right now, agree in writing to sell us as much of your treasury stock as we want at market price at Monday's closing, agree to appoint a new tai-pan of our board's choosing, we'll announce that we're supporting Struan's totally.
Now I have been taking blank stock certificates, some of those held as treasury stock in the company's safe.
So he started in to issue the treasury stock, forging the signatures of the president and the treasurer, that is, my signature.