An asset sale is the purchase of individual assets and liabilities, whereas a stock sale is the purchase of the owner's shares of a corporation. Learn the tax implications for each type of sale.One of our more popular blog posts focused on asset deal vs. In an asset purchase, the buyer acquires specific assets. In a stock sale, the buyer acquires equity from the target company's shareholders. ​​ The main difference between asset sales vs. A stock sale is when you buy the stock of a business. This means when you purchase the stock, you inherit all the known and unknown liabilities. An asset sale otherwise known as an asset deal or asset purchase is a special type of business sale that only deals with assets and liabilities. In an asset sale, the buyer has the option to purchase all the assets and liabilities or specific assets—and assume certain liabilities—of a target corporation.