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. 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.Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. In a stock sale, the buyer acquires equity from the target company's shareholders. A stock sale is when the owner sells off stock shares. In stock sales, the buyer purchases the owner's shares of the corporation. Generally, a stock sale is better for the seller and an asset sale is better for the buyer. An asset is ideal if you want more demand and a higher sale price, while a stock sale is ideal if you want to sell sooner and at favorable tax terms. The buyer purchases the assets of the business as opposed to the stock.