
The shares will either be held by the state where the stockholder lived when they bought the stock or in the state where the company is based or in the state in which it is incorporated. So the key is to search at least those three states and --thanks to the internet—you can actually search all 50 states fairly easily, just to be thorough.
Where should the account be in the name of the stockholder?
The account should be in the name of the stockholder, not the company. The shares will either be held by the state where the stockholder lived when they bought the stock or in the state where the company is based or in the state in which it is incorporated.
How do I find the ownership of a stock?
Just type the name of the stock you are interested in and select the stock on the correct stock exchange from the available options. Then you can scroll down on this company page until you will find all the available ownership data.
How do I check my stock accounts?
For many investors, going online is a good way to check stock accounts. Many brokerages offer extensive websites that let you see what is currently in your account as well as its value. Many will also link to additional information, making it easy for you to research your holdings from one place.
What is the best way to hold stocks?
The most popular holding form for most investors is through a brokerage account or asset management account. When you buy shares of Coca-Cola (KO) or General Electric (GE) through your broker, they don't sit in a vault with your name on them. Instead, the broker registers them in its name.

How do I find old stocks I own?
Call the Financial Stock Guide Service at (800) 367-3441 and ask for the custom research department. They will be able to tell you, for a fee, whether or not your shares are active or obsolete. In business since 1927, they also publish a directory that updates annually. Go to www.spinksmythe.com or call (800) 622-1880.
What does stock held mean?
When an investor holds onto a stock, she is effectively initiating a long position in an equity. Investors who hold a stock for a long period of time can benefit from quarterly dividends and potential price appreciation over time.
Do I actually own my stocks?
You don't technically own the shares you invest in. The nominee company (or custodian) holds securities in their own name, on behalf of the actual investors. Custodians can organise dividend and interest payment collection and distribution, transaction processing, tax reporting and brokerage account administration.
What does it mean if a stock is held in street name?
A security is held in "street name" when a brokerage holds it on behalf of a client. The name that appears on the stock or bond certificate is that of the broker, but the person who paid for the securities retains ownership rights.
What are my holdings?
The easiest way to grasp the concept of holdings is to think of them as assets you “hold” — These can include stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, cash, or just about any other investment product you can think of. Your personal holdings can also include your retirement portfolio, or real estate if you own a home.
Why are stocks held?
The primary reason for holding stock is to generate revenue through the sale of goods and services. To avoid the risk of a stock-out occurring and the subsequent potential towards lost sales, a company will typically hold some level of stock on hand. This is generally referred to as buffer or safety stock.
How do I find out if I have shares in a company?
Contact the company you've invested in and ask for the investor relations department. Identify yourself, then inquire when the stock certificate was registered to you, and when it was mailed. The company should have a complete record of this transaction and should have tracked the certificate.
What happens after you buy a stock?
After you buy stock, the share price can increase, it can stay the same or it can decrease. If you're a long-term investor and you believe that your stock will increase during the coming years, you might not want to panic-sell any time the stock price starts going down.
What happens when you sell a stock?
In most situations and at most brokers, the trade will settle — meaning the cash from the sale will land in your account — two business days after the date the order executes.
Who actually holds stock certificates?
Evidence of ownership is reported on a computer printout sent to the client. There is no question about who owns the stock. The purchaser is the sole owner, and the broker simply maintains the stock in his possession, often using it as collateral for a loan.
Does Your broker own your stocks?
A broker does not have to buy the stock you are trying to sell; a broker is there to act as an agent on behalf of the seller, finding someone to make the purchase.
Do I lose my stock if my broker goes out of business?
Key Takeaways. If a brokerage fails, another financial firm may agree to buy the firm's assets and accounts will be transferred to the new custodian with little interruption. The government also provides insurance, known as SIPC coverage, on up to $500,000 of securities or $250,000 of cash held at a brokerage firm.
Why is it important to keep an eye on your stock account?
Keeping an eye on your account can help you ensure it is meeting your investment goals so you can make changes if necessary. Checking your stock accounts is usually easy, as many brokerage houses offer multiple different ways to get information about your holdings.
Can a brokerage firm quote my account?
Your firm can quote the contents of your account and answer your questions about it. The amount of advice you receive when talking with a broker or customer service rep can vary, though, depending on the expertise of the person you're talking to.
Can you use a paper statement to confirm holdings?
In the event that your brokerage experiences a computer glitch or you find a discrepancy, you may be able to use the statement to confirm your holdings . Also, if you are uncomfortable with using your computer to check your account, a paper statement does the trick.
1. Company Ownership Search on MSN.com
In order to search for stock ownership information on MSN.com you have to visit the following url: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money. On this web page you will find a “Quote Search Bar” which you can use to find the stock you want to know the ownership of.
2. Institutional Stock Ownership Search on NASDAQ.com
For searching institutional stock ownership on NASDAQ.com you can visit their home page at: http://www.nasdaq.com. In the top middle of the home page you will find a get a quote search bar in which you can enter the stock symbol or company name of the stock of which you would like to know the institutional ownership.
3. Institutional Stock Ownership Search on Reuters.com
To inform yourself about the institutional stock ownership via the website of Reuters.com you should first visit their home page at http://www.reuters.com. On the top right you will find a search bar in which you can enter the stock symbol or company name of the stock you would like to research the institutional ownership of.
4. Reverse Engineer the Company Ownership for American Institutions on SEC.gov
In order to verify the amount of shares held per institutional shareholder, found through MSN and NASDAQ, you should be reviewing the 13F – HR report from this shareholder, filed on SEC.gov.
5. Company Ownership Search for Canadian Listed Companies on SEDI.ca
The company ownership search for all Canadian listed companies starts at the website of SEDI. SEDI is short for: System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders and you can access their website by clicking here.
What is a specialist stock broker?
The specialist facilitates the trading of a given stock and maintains a fair and orderly market. 1 If necessary, the specialist will use his or her own inventory to meet the demands of the trade orders.
What are the primary sources used in Investopedia?
These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts.
Is the NYSE a physical exchange?
Updated Nov 13, 2018. Most stocks are traded on physical or virtual exchanges. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), for example, is a physical exchange where some trades are placed manually on a trading floor —yet, other trading activity is conducted electronically. 1 NASDAQ, on the other hand, is a fully electronic exchange where all trading ...
What is a stock certificate?
Some investors hold physical stock certificates—pieces of paper with their name on them—that represent their ownership in a corporation. Other investors are invested in a dividend reinvestment program ( DRIP) and their shares are noted by the company’s registrar in an electronic journal. 1 This journal entry is known as a “book entry.”.
What is the most common holding form for investors?
Most Popular Holding Form. The most popular holding form for most investors, however, is through a brokerage account or asset management account. When you buy shares of Coca-Cola (K) or General Electric (GE) through your broker, they aren’t physically sitting in a vault with your name on them. Instead, the broker has them registered in its name.
Does Coke know if you own shares?
Instead, the broker has them registered in its name. That is, Coke won’t know that you own the shares, it only sees that Charles Schwab or Fidelity—or any other broker—owns X number of shares. The stockbrokers, in turn, track who owns what internally by adjusting their own accounting records.
How do short sellers drive down the price of a stock?
Short sellers can drive down the price by selling short the stock, selling a borrowed stock, then buying it back cheaper . This results in a profit for the short seller. It can lead to a tax problem when the dividends you receive are technically taken away from you.
What does DRS mean in stock market?
Using a DRS provides you with protection against counter party risk. You're going to have to go through the recovery process through SIPC insurance if your stockbroker goes bankrupt, and if your shares were held in a street name. But you'll hopefully receive a reimbursement.
Do stockbrokers send proxy statements?
Stockbrokers are famous for being slow when it comes to delivering annual reports, 10k filings, and proxy statements, from the companies of which you own shares. But the documents are mailed to your address of record, often promptly, when you're registered directly with the transfer agent through the DRS. Paper stocks can be misplaced, stolen, ...
Can paper stocks be stolen?
Paper stocks can be misplaced, stolen, or destroyed. This is a problem you'll never have to face with the DRS. This can save you money. You're advised to insure your stocks for as much as 5% of the market value when you mail stock certificates. This 3% comes out of your pocket.
Do dividends meet tax requirements?
Your dividends won't meet the qualified dividend requirements for tax purposes, increasing your taxes on loaned shares. Many companies offer dividend reinvestment programs (DRIPs). These are great if you want to reinvest your dividends by buying more shares of stock with little to no costs or fees.
What are the requirements to sell stocks?
The mandates include share price minimums, certain shareholder thresholds, and fastidious documentation of a company's performance and operational data.
Why do stocks drop off radar?
As a result, individual investors have less data on which to base their investment decisions, often causing such stocks to drop off their radar screens. Not surprisingly, a delisted company's liquidity and trading volume typically plummet as a result.
What happens if a stock is delisted?
If a stock is delisted, the company may still trade over two different platforms, namely: the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) or the pink sheets system. Although both are significantly less regulated than the major exchanges, OTCBB is by far the stricter of the two.
