what makes up total equity

Total equity, also known as shareholders' equity, is composed of several key components that reflect a company's financial structure and ownership interests. These components include: 1. **Outstanding Shares**: This represents the total amount of company stock that has been sold to investors and not repurchased by the company. It includes the par value of common stock and any preferred shares. 2. **Additional Paid-in Capital**: This figure includes the amount of money paid for shares of stock above their stated par value, which occurs when investors buy shares directly from the company during an initial public offering (IPO) or otherwise. 3. **Retained Earnings**: This is the cumulative income of the firm since inception that has not been distributed as dividends. It represents the profits that have been reinvested in the business. 4. **Treasury Shares**: These are shares that have been repurchased by the company but have not yet been retired. They are not included in the calculation of equity and represent a reduction in the number of outstanding shares. 5. **Contributed Capital**: This includes the total amount paid in by common and preferred shareholders, which represents the initial investment by shareholders. 6. **Non-Controlling Interest**: This represents the portion of a subsidiary's net assets that are not owned by the parent company. For example, if a firm owns 80% of a subsidiary, it will report 20% of the subsidiary's net assets as non-controlling interest. Understanding these components is crucial for analyzing a company's financial health and stability. Total equity provides insights into the company's net worth and the amount of money that would remain after all liabilities were paid off.