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 an asset sale, the business sells individual assets to the buyer.In a stock sale, the buyer acquires equity from the target company's shareholders. 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. Asset Sale lets buyers choose specific assets and liabilities; Stock Sale doesn't. An asset sale will likely result in a combination of gain taxed at both ordinary and capital gains rates, depending on the nature of the individual assets. Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. ​​ The main difference between asset sales vs. 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.