Begin your old stock certificate lookup by doing an online ticker search. Type the name of your company into a search engine and see if it still exists and what its trading symbol is. You may also be able to find information about your company's fate by doing a simple web search for the name of your company and "corporate history."
How do you identify a stock on a stock certificate?
For example, record the name of the company listed on the stock certificate and the state where the company issued the stock. Check the text on the stock certificate for the "CUSIP" number. It is a unique number that a broker can use to identify the company that issued the stock.
Do old stock certificates have any value?
They can still have value if they represent an existing or merged company, or if they are valued as collectibles. A little bit of research can help you determine the worth, if any, of your old paper stock certificate. Determine whether the company is still traded on a stock exchange.
How much does it cost to get a stock certificate back?
Use a fee-based service to search your stock's history if the earlier steps come up empty. Fees can range from $40 to $85 or more. Determine the collectible value of your certificate if it no longer has stock value.
How do I research old stock certificates for free?
Call a discount or full-service brokerage house and provide the CUSIP number, which is unique to each individual stock certificate, and stock brokerages can use this number to find out exactly the status of the company. Most larger discount brokerage houses will do this search for free, but be sure to ask first.
How do I redeem old stock certificates?
The ownership transfer form can be found on the back of the stock certificate. Take the certificate to a notary public, and sign it in the notary's presence. Send the stock certificate to the transfer agent by certified mail along with any required documentation of your ownership rights.
How do I find old stock purchases?
Researching Old Stock Certificates If your lost shares are long-term stock holdings, check to see if the company you remember was acquired or changed its name. If you are missing certificates, contact the issuing company, transfer agent or the stock brokerage where the shares were bought.
How do I know if my old stock certificate is still valid?
Determine if the company still exists If you can find the company itself, you're in luck. All you need to do is contact the company and ask for its transfer agent. The transfer agent is the person that will help you get registered as the owner of the certificate and collect any uncollected dividends.
How do I know if my old share certificates are still valid?
Another way to check on a share certificate's validity is to contact the company registrars whose name should be written on the certificate. Companies use registrars to keep a record of who owns their shares.
How do I research old stock certificates?
Certificate holders who have a brokerage account may want to ask their broker if they can assist in researching the certificate. Other research resources may be found on the Internet, at public libraries, stock exchanges, or stockbrokers' offices.
Do stock certificates expire?
Stock shares do not have an expiration date. There are companies listed on the stock exchanges whose shares have traded for over 100 years. However, there are several circumstances in which the shares of a particular company stop having any value.
How much are old stock certificates worth?
Old certificates can be worth anywhere from $10 to $10,000, although most samples will fall in the lower end of the range. Collectors value certificates for the history of the issuing companies and also as art.
What happens if a stock splits over years?
If the stock has split over the years, the amount listed might not be the amount your certificate is worth. Contact the stock certificate's transfer agent, who is responsible for keeping records for stockholders. The agent is listed on the certificate itself.
Can you throw away old stock certificates?
Old stock certificates shouldn't be simply thrown away. They can still have value if they represent an existing or merged company, or if they are valued as collectibles. A little bit of research can help you determine the worth, if any, of your old paper stock certificate. Step 1. Determine whether the company is still traded on a stock exchange.
What is a stock certificate?
A stock certificate represents an ownership stake in a company. Prior to the age of electronic stock exchanges and paperless financial processes, stock certificates were traded in paper form.
What happens if you hold stock at a broker?
If an investor holds the stock at a broker, the transfer agent will hold the shares in “street name,” or as a “book entry” (the shares are in the name of the broker, for the benefit of the specific customer). If there is no broker involved, the transfer agent will issue shares to the investor in the investor’s name.
Do stock certificates become less frequent?
With fewer and fewer investors trading outside of the electronic methods available, stock certificates are becoming less frequent, and almost collectors' items in their novelty. It is important, however, if you do come across a stock certificate to research the certificate to obtain a complete history of both the ownership ...
When did the stock exchange stop requiring certificates?
In 2001, the New York Stock Exchange ceased requiring physical stock certificates, allowing issuing companies to spend less time and money in their creation, distribution and tracking. However, a small number of companies continue to issue physical stock certificates, providing shareholders with a measure of security from hackers ...
What happens if a stock certificate says "specimen"?
If the certificate says “specimen” where the stockholder’s name should be, the certificate has no legal value. The International Bond and Share Society regularly holds auctions, which creates a market for old stock certificates. You can look for comparable transactions listed in the auction results published online.
What to do if transfer agent no longer exists?
If the transfer agent no longer exists, contact the state agency that handles incorporations in the state in which the company was formed. Provide documentation to your broker, who is responsible for keeping account values current and therefore can do much of the necessary research.
Where can I find the transfer agent number?
You can usually find the number of the company or the name of the transfer agent on the company's website; generally, publicly listed corporations have an investor-relations link on their sites. The main reason you need to go to a transfer agent is companies rarely handle their own securities in-house.
Where does incorporation go?
Generally, incorporation goes through the Secretary of State, and the name of the business will be documented in those databases. You should be able to contact the Secretary of State's office and find out more about your certificate. Stock Certificate.
Can you transfer ownership of stock to your name?
The transfer agent will have a record of the person's name on the stock certificate; ownership can then be transferred to your name. This can be done in many different ways, so it's always best to contact the transfer agent and request instructions. Many of them are extremely picky.
Can stock search companies help you find stock guides?
Stock search companies may also publish or help you find stock guides to assist you in investigating an old stock. However, it is often the case that the company will charge you more than the stock is actually worth. (For related reading, see: I Lost My Share Certificate.
How to prove ownership of a stock?
When proving that you own the stock, you need to start with the owner's name that is listed on the stock. Now work your way backward to trace the ownership. Depending on how old the stock is, this could be as simple as starting with a parent. It could go back further though, and that's when things get confusing.
What to do when you find old stocks?
When you find old stocks, the first thing you need to do is find out if the company still exists. If the company doesn't exist, it most likely is worth nothing as a security. But don't give up all hope just yet. It may be worth something as a collectible. There is a whole community of people who collect old stocks.
Why are old stocks valuable?
There is a whole community of people who collect old stocks. Not just any stocks are collected though. They are valuable because of their design or quality. Or they could be worth something because of the person who signed or owned them. You may also find someone who wants them purely for the history of them.
When was the stock market first traded?
The first stock traded was for the Bank of New York in 1792.
Can you cash out old stock certificates?
If not, you may find a collector who is interested in them. Whatever you ultimately decide, make sure you don't lose your old stock certificates by storing them properly. This will help keep them safe and retain their value.
Did stocks print on paper?
This wasn't always the case though. The original stocks were printed on paper and often used as a form of currency. Their printing was a closely guarded secret and there were only three companies in the United States that were authorized to print them.
Can you find old stock certificates in the attic?
Trading is done electronically. However, it isn't uncommon for people to find old stocks hidden away in places like an attic. Not everyone practiced proper procedures for storing their important documents safely. This resulted in people forgetting about their old stock certificates over the years.
What is stock certificate?
Stock certificates provide proof of ownership of shares of stock in a corporation, but they are not the actual ownership interest. A stock certificate is not like a dollar bill or a bearer bond that is owned by anyone who has physical possession of the instrument. The owner of a stock certificate is the person whose name is printed on the face.
What happens to stock certificates when someone dies?
It's personal property, so if the person who owned the certificate is deceased, the ownership rights passed to his heirs in accordance with the disposition of his estate . You may do all of the legwork to establish the authenticity of this stock certificate from the 1900s, only to have to turn over the prize to a second cousin you ...
What to do if you don't recognize the corporation that issued the certificate?
If you do not recognize the corporation that issued the certificate, you can contact the business registration office in the state where the company was incorporated to determine if it is still in business, has changed names, has closed down, or has been acquired by or merged with another company.
Is a stock certificate from the 1900s still valid?
Determining if a stock certificate from the 1900s is still valid requires a bit of legwork, but as long as you recognize the company and it's still in business, authenticating the certificate is not difficult.
Do corporations keep records?
Corporate Record-Keeping. Corporations are required by law to keep an up-to-date record of their shareholders. Many corporations that were operating in the 1900s are still in business today.
