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.Asset Sale lets buyers choose specific assets and liabilities; Stock Sale doesn't. Asset sales are types of business transaction where buyers purchase assets from a business, and the sellers retain legal ownership of the company. 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. Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. While an asset sale outshines a stock sale in company structure support, it loses a fair amount of points when it comes to tax implications. An asset sale purchases a specific detailed list of business assets and liabilities. A stock sale requires buying the owners' share of stock in the company.