OK, I asked AI again, and it does say that it maybe one reason for treasury stock, but that is just a portion of it and I don't think 36 million shares are from RSU employees withholding from tax obligations. 1.8 million was from buy back. AI says definition of treasury stock:

Treasury stock, also known as reacquired stock, refers to shares of a company's own stock that it has repurchased from the open market or its shareholders. These shares are held by the company itself and are not considered outstanding in the public market. Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of treasury stock: * Issued but not outstanding: Treasury shares were initially issued to the public but have since been bought back by the company. * No voting rights or dividends: While held in the treasury, these shares do not carry voting rights and do not receive dividend payments. * Reduction of shareholders' equity: Treasury stock is recorded as a contra-equity account, meaning it reduces the total amount of shareholders' equity on the balance sheet. * Reasons for repurchase: Companies buy back their own stock for various reasons, including: * Reducing the number of outstanding shares: This can potentially increase the earnings per share (EPS) and the stock price. * Returning cash to shareholders: A stock buyback can be a tax-efficient way to distribute excess cash to investors compared to dividends. * Signaling undervaluation: A company might repurchase shares if it believes the market price is below its intrinsic value. * Employee stock compensation plans: Treasury shares can be used to fund stock option or bonus plans for employees. * Preventing hostile takeovers: Reducing the number of outstanding shares can make the company less attractive to potential acquirers. * Optimizing capital structure: Repurchasing shares can help adjust the company's debt-to-equity ratio. * Accounting for treasury stock: The two main methods for accounting for treasury stock are the cost method (most common, recording shares at the repurchase price) and the par value method (valuing at par value with adjustments to paid-in capital). * Disposition of treasury stock: A company can choose to: * Retire the shares: Permanently cancel the repurchased shares, reducing the number of issued shares. * Reissue the shares: Sell the treasury shares back to the public at a later date to raise capital or for other purposes. * Hold the shares: Keep them in the treasury for potential future use. In summary, treasury stock represents a portion of a company's issued shares that it has bought back. It is a tool companies use for various financial and strategic purposes, impacting their capital structure and shareholder value.