- Direct impact on stock liquidity
- Determines the degree of stock dilution when raising capital
- Impact on the calculation of VN-Index, VN30
- Affects voting rights and ownership of shareholders
Understanding the number of outstanding shares will help you make informed investment decisions in the Vietnamese stock market. This article analyzes this concept in detail with practical examples, accurate calculation formulas, and specific application strategies, helping you leverage this important parameter to optimize your investment portfolio.
Basic concept of the number of outstanding shares
The number of outstanding shares is the total number of shares of a company held by shareholders, excluding treasury shares. This is an important indicator that directly affects the real value of businesses and stocks in the Vietnamese market.
Specific example: VNM (Vinamilk) has 2 billion issued shares, of which 100 million shares are treasury shares. Therefore, the number of outstanding shares of VNM is 1.9 billion shares. When monitoring this parameter on Pocket Option, investors can easily track changes and adjust their investment strategies in a timely manner.
Distinguishing between the number of outstanding shares and charter capital
Many new investors in Vietnam confuse these two concepts. Charter capital is the value of assets contributed by shareholders when establishing the company and rarely changes. Meanwhile, the number of outstanding shares changes frequently through issuances, buybacks, or ESOP programs.
| Criteria | Number of outstanding shares | Charter capital |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Total number of shares held by shareholders | Total value of assets initially committed by shareholders |
| Calculation method | Total issued shares – Treasury shares | Par value × Total issued shares |
| Nature | Changes frequently | Stable, only changes with official decisions |
Importance of outstanding shares for Vietnamese investors
Why should you care about this indicator? Simply because it directly affects stock valuation indicators such as EPS, P/E, and book value. Changes in the number of outstanding shares can cause significant stock price fluctuations unrelated to actual business performance.
The Vietnamese market is characterized by many capital increases and additional share issuances. According to Pocket Option data, in 2023-2024, more than 60% of listed companies carried out activities that changed the number of outstanding shares, significantly impacting investors’ portfolio values.
A notable example: Novaland (NVL) increased its number of outstanding shares from 1 billion to nearly 2 billion shares in just 2 years, leading to a sharp decline in EPS and significant drop in stock price despite the company still being profitable.
How to calculate and analyze the number of outstanding shares
The formula for calculating the number of outstanding shares is very simple:
| Formula for calculating the number of outstanding shares |
|---|
| Number of outstanding shares = Total issued shares – Treasury shares |
You can easily find this information in quarterly/annual financial reports, annual reports, or directly from HoSE, HNX websites. Specifically, the Pocket Option platform has integrated tools to track this indicator in real-time, giving Vietnamese investors an advantage in decision making.
Additionally, the “weighted average number of outstanding shares” is even more important when analyzing companies that have changed their number of shares during the reporting period. The calculation formula is as follows:
| Weighted average outstanding shares = (Number of outstanding shares × Days outstanding) ÷ Total days in period |
|---|
| Type of shares | Characteristics | Impact on number of outstanding shares |
|---|---|---|
| Common shares | Have voting rights and receive dividends | Counted in the number of outstanding shares |
| Preferred shares | Priority for dividends, usually no voting rights | Counted in the number of outstanding shares |
| Treasury shares | Shares repurchased by the company from the market | Not counted in the number of outstanding shares |
| ESOP shares | Bonus shares for employees | Counted in the number of outstanding shares after issuance |
Impact of share buybacks on company value
More and more Vietnamese businesses are repurchasing shares as treasury stock. When a company buys back shares, the number of outstanding shares decreases, EPS increases, supporting the stock price.
Real example: FPT repurchased 3 million shares as treasury stock in 2023. With a net profit of 6,000 billion VND and the number of outstanding shares reduced from 1.03 billion to 1.027 billion, FPT’s EPS increased from 5,825 VND/share to 5,842 VND/share. Pocket Option provided early warnings about this change, helping investors capture opportunities before the stock price increased.
Factors affecting fluctuations in the number of outstanding shares
The Vietnamese business environment has many factors that can change the number of outstanding shares. Understanding these factors helps you correctly assess their impact on your investment portfolio.
- Issuing additional shares to raise capital (common in banks, real estate)
- Paying dividends in shares (main trend in Vietnam from 2022-2024)
- Share buybacks as treasury stock (increasing in technology companies)
- ESOP programs (common in growth companies)
- Stock splits or reverse splits (rare but have strong impact)
In Vietnam, issuing shares to pay dividends is the most common way to increase the number of outstanding shares. According to statistics from Pocket Option, in 2023, 162 listed companies chose this method, increasing the total number of shares in the market by 8.7%.
| Event | Impact on outstanding shares | Effect on EPS | Specific example in Vietnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuing additional shares | Increase | Decrease (if profit doesn’t increase correspondingly) | VPBank increased capital from 45,000 billion to 79,000 billion VND (2023) |
| Share buyback | Decrease | Increase (with same profit level) | Vietcombank repurchased 2.8 million ESOP shares (2023) |
| Paying dividends in shares | Increase | Decrease correspondingly | HPG paid dividends in shares at 20% ratio (2022) |
| Stock split (2:1) | Double increase | Decrease by half | DGC split shares at 1:1 ratio (2022) |
Application in investment strategies in the Vietnamese market
Understanding the number of outstanding shares helps you build smarter investment strategies. Below are ways Pocket Option suggests to apply this knowledge in practice:
Trading strategies based on changes in the number of outstanding shares
When a Vietnamese company announces a share buyback plan, this is usually a positive signal. Real example: MWG announced a buyback of 3 million treasury shares in June 2023. Alert investors made a 22% profit in just 3 months after this announcement.
Conversely, continuously issuing additional shares is usually a warning sign. A typical example: FLC continuously increased capital from 2018-2021, with the number of outstanding shares tripling, but profits did not increase correspondingly, leading to a sharp decline in stock price.
| Strategy | When to apply | Benefits | Specific example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invest in shares of companies conducting buybacks | When the company has a buyback plan at a reasonable price | Potential price increase due to improved EPS | MSN repurchased 10 million shares (Q3/2023) |
| Avoid excessively diluted shares | When companies continuously issue more shares without clear plans | Minimize risk of stock price decline | Many real estate companies issued massively in 2021-2022 |
| Capitalize on ESOP opportunities | When ESOP is linked to actual business KPIs | Management has incentives to improve results | MBB with ESOP linked to profit growth |
Pocket Option provides tools to track changes in the number of outstanding shares in real-time, along with analysis of the impact on important financial indicators. Vietnamese investors can set alerts about these changes to seize opportunities or avoid risks in a timely manner.
Common mistakes when evaluating stocks based on outstanding shares
In the investment journey, many Vietnamese investors often make mistakes when using information about the number of outstanding shares. Understanding and avoiding these mistakes will help you make wiser decisions.
- Confusion between increasing number of shares due to dividend payments and increasing real company value
- Only focusing on EPS without examining the quality of profit generating the EPS
- Ignoring analysis of weighted average shares during the period
- Not monitoring the company’s future issuance plans
Typical example: Many investors bought VHM shares before the announcement of 25% share dividends, expecting portfolio value to increase by 25%. In reality, after the ex-dividend date, the total value remained unchanged as the price adjusted downward corresponding to the dividend ratio.
| Mistake | Consequence | Solution | Support tool on Pocket Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confusion between stock splits and value increase | Incorrect assessment of investment potential | Understand the nature of corporate events | “Corporate Events” filter with impact analysis |
| Only focusing on EPS without examining source | Missing warning signs about growth quality | Analyze the source of EPS growth | “EPS Deep Dive” detailed analysis tool |
| Not monitoring future issuance plans | Unable to anticipate dilution risks | Carefully read reports and company news | “Issuance Plans” alert system |
Pocket Option has developed advanced analysis tools to help investors avoid these mistakes. The smart alert system will notify when it detects signs of excessive stock dilution or opportunities from effective share buyback programs.
Lessons from leading listed companies in Vietnam
Studying how major companies in Vietnam manage their number of outstanding shares provides valuable lessons. Let’s consider some typical examples:
Vingroup (VIC) has repeatedly issued additional shares to raise capital for major projects like VinFast and Vinhomes. Although the number of outstanding shares increased, VIC used the capital effectively to create new high-value business segments, maintaining investor confidence.
In contrast, some real estate companies issued too many shares in 2020-2021 to invest in inefficient projects, leading to serious dilution and stock price decreases of 70-80% from peak. This is an expensive lesson about monitoring the number of outstanding shares when evaluating stocks.
| Company | Strategy related to outstanding shares | Result | Lesson for investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietcombank (VCB) | Selective additional issuances, careful management | Maintained high share value, stable EPS | Quality of capital management is more important than quantity |
| FPT Corporation | Effective ESOP, performance-linked share bonuses | Sustainable growth, steady stock price increase | Proper ESOP creates long-term value |
| Hoa Phat Group | Balance between issuance and cash dividends | Effective capital growth, satisfied shareholders | Balanced financial strategy creates trust |
Lessons from leading companies show that effective management of the number of outstanding shares is an important factor in long-term development. Pocket Option recommends investors prioritize companies with clear and transparent plans on this issue.
Conclusion
The number of outstanding shares is not just a simple statistic but an important indicator of the real value and potential of stocks. With the Vietnamese stock market becoming increasingly mature, understanding and correctly applying knowledge about this indicator will help you make smarter investment decisions.
This article has analyzed in detail everything from basic concepts to practical applications of the number of outstanding shares in investing. By combining this knowledge with professional analysis tools from Pocket Option, you can build effective investment strategies suitable for your personal financial goals and Vietnamese market conditions.
Take action today! Monitor the number of outstanding shares of companies in your investment portfolio, analyze the impact of these changes on the real value of stocks, and adjust your investment strategy in a timely manner. Knowing “cổ phiếu lưu hành là gì” is the key to achieving sustainable success in the Vietnamese stock market.
FAQ
What are outstanding shares?
Outstanding shares are the total number of shares of a company held by all shareholders (individuals, institutions, insiders, and strategic investors), excluding treasury shares. These are the actual shares participating in trading and are used to calculate important financial ratios such as EPS, P/E, and book value.
How can I find out the number of outstanding shares of a company in Vietnam?
You can find information about the number of outstanding shares in quarterly/annual financial reports, annual reports of the company, official websites of HNX and HOSE, or professional financial portals such as CafeF, VnDirect, SSI Research. The Pocket Option platform also provides tools to track this data in real-time with in-depth analysis of its impact on stock prices.
Why is the number of outstanding shares important for investors?
The number of outstanding shares directly affects the real value of stocks through indicators such as EPS (earnings per share), P/E (price-to-earnings ratio), and book value. When the number of shares increases without a corresponding increase in profits, EPS will decrease, reducing the stock value. Conversely, when a company buys back shares, EPS may increase, supporting the stock price. This is a key factor helping investors correctly assess company value
What factors change the number of outstanding shares in the Vietnamese market?
In Vietnam, the number of outstanding shares typically changes due to: additional share issuances to raise capital (common in banks, real estate), dividend payments in shares (main trend from 2022-2024), company share buybacks as treasury stock (increasing in technology companies), ESOP programs (common in growth companies), and stock splits/reverse splits (rare but high impact). According to Pocket Option data, paying dividends in shares is the most common form in Vietnam, with 162 companies adopting this in 2023.
What tools does Pocket Option provide to track and analyze the number of outstanding shares?
Pocket Option provides many professional tools to help Vietnamese investors track and analyze the number of outstanding shares: real-time monitoring system for changes in share numbers, "EPS Deep Dive" tool analyzing the source of EPS changes, "Corporate Events" filter with impact analysis, "Issuance Plans" alert system helping forecast dilution risks, and historical comparison reports of changes in outstanding shares of companies in the same industry. These tools help investors make timely and effective investment decisions.