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. In a stock sale, the buyer acquires equity from the target company's shareholders.Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. Asset Sale lets buyers choose specific assets and liabilities; Stock Sale doesn't. An asset sale transaction involves the sale of some or all of the assets used in a business from a selling company to a buyer. 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. Unlike an asset sale, a taxable stock sale does not result in the recognition of taxable income or loss at the corporate level. In an asset sale, the buyer purchases specific assets and liabilities of the business rather than acquiring the ownership of the company itself.