To determine the value of an old stock certificate, you will need to verify if the company is still active, the current (or most recent name) of the company and if its shares are still tradable.
Start by determining the company’s status
You will need to determine if the company is still in existence. Different resources are available to you. You can begin with a quick internet search on the company’s name.
If this doesn’t turn up any information, you may consult the corporate registry where the company was registered. You will find this information on the stock certificate, it will usually state“Incorporated under the laws of…”. For a list of provincial corporate registries,follow this link. If the company is federally incorporated,follow this linkto consult Corporations Canada’s search engine.
Certain organizations may, for a fee, perform this search for you. Please note that the CSA does not endorse the services of these companies.
The Financial Post
333 King Street East
Toronto, ON, M5A 4N2
Tel: (416) 442-2121; 1-800-661-7678
Email:helpdesk@infomart.com
www.fpinfomart.ca(click on “Predecessor & Defunct”)
Once you have determined that the company is still in existence and its current name, you will need to:
Consult our website and search SEDAR+ to find out if the company is under CTO. Followthis linkfor general information on CTOs.
If there are no active CTOs issued against the company, you may be able to trade your shares.
How to trade-in a stock certificate
If the share certificate is registered in your name, you have three options:
- Keep it in a safe place until you are ready to trade it
- Deposit the shares into an existing brokerage account
- Open a brokerage account and deposit the shares.
If the share certificate is not registered in your name, you can have it transferred to you. To do so, contact the company’s transfer agent (listed on the certificate) or the company directly.
Transfer agent and company contact information are available atwww.sedarplus.ca, the official site that provides access to most public securities documents and information filed by issuers with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).
On the company’s profile page, their address, a contact person as well as the transfer agent will be listed. Contact information for many transfer agents in Canada is available onThe Securities Transfer Association of Canadawebsite.
Scripophily
If the company is no longer in existence, the share certificate itself might still have some value to a collector. Share certificates are collected by scripophily enthusiasts for their historical significance and/or for their artwork and intricate engraving.
Consult one of the many scripophily resources available on the internet to find out more. Please note that the CSA does not endorse any specific scripophily website.
FAQs
You can begin with a quick internet search on the company's name. If this doesn't turn up any information, you may consult the corporate registry where the company was registered. You will find this information on the stock certificate, it will usually state “Incorporated under the laws of…”.
How do I find out if share certificates are still valid? ›
In most cases, share certificates will remain valid until the shareholdings are sold or transferred. However, if the company merges or gets sold, the certificates may become invalid. If the company is known, the relevant share registrar can be contacted to check if the Deceased's share certificates are still valid.
How do you cash in old stock certificates? ›
In order to cash in the stock, you need to fill out the transfer form on the back of the certificate and have it notarized. Once complete, send the notarized certificate to the transfer agent, who will register the stock to you as owner.
How to find old share certificates? ›
The communication of the information of the share certificate being lost or misplaced can be done by posting a letter to the company's address or by emailing the company. The shareholder must provide the details of the lost or misplaced share certificate, like name, folio number, address and share certificate number.
Are old cancelled stock certificates worth anything? ›
Are they worthless or do they have investment value? ANSWER: Old stock certificates, especially those from defunct companies, are only worth the paper that they're printed on.
How to sell paper stock certificates in Canada? ›
You can cash them in through the transfer agent of the company with which the stock is owned. Or, you can work with a broker to sell the stock. Research the value of the stock to know whether you are holding on to fortune in cash or simply a pretty, collectible piece of paper.
Are my old share certificates worth anything? ›
LSEG suggests the best way to see whether a shares certificate is still valid and worth selling is to consult a stockbroker. “It will cost you a small fee but, if there is money to be made from them, a stockbroker should help,” it says.
How do I research old stock certificates for free? ›
The business reference section of a public library may have publications to assist with researching old stock certificates.
Who buys old stock certificates? ›
See the collection of old stock and bond certificates at Scripophily.com, which is the Internet's largest buyer and seller of old stock and bond certificates.
How can I tell if a stock certificate is still valid? ›
The easiest way is to contact the company and ask it directly. 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.
“To abandon a security, you must permanently surrender and relinquish all rights in the security and receive no consideration in exchange for it,” according to the agency. Here's what you need to do to report your loss: Report any worthless securities on Form 8949.
What is the CUSIP number on a stock certificate? ›
The CUSIP number, also known as the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures number, is a unique nine-character identification number assigned to all stocks (and registered bonds) in the U.S. and Canada. It is used to create a concrete distinction between securities that are traded on public markets.
How to sell old share certificates? ›
Selling old share certificates
- The investor must possess an account with a depository participant (DP).
- The investor must render the physical securities non-negotiable and surrender them to the DP.
- The DP electronically informs the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) of the dematerialization request.
Again, you'll need to start by contacting the company's share registrar, if you know the company name. You might have previously heard of the Unclaimed Assets Register – a database that helped locate lost assets in bank accounts, pensions and investments – and it would have been your first port of call.
How do I find details of old shares? ›
How to find lost dividends and shares
- Contact the relevant company.
- Contact the responsible state government department as the unclaimed monies may be either registered with that department or depending on the time that has lapsed, held by the department.
An old stock or bond certificate may still be valuable even if it no longer trades under the name printed on the certificate. The company may have merged with another company or simply changed its name.
How do I find the past value of a stock? ›
Online brokerage sites such as eTrade and TD Ameritrade or apps like Robinhood will have both real-time and historical quote data for customers and usually limited access for non-customers as well. Financial websites like Motley Fool or Google Finance will also provide quote information for both stocks and indices.
How can I find out if I still have stock in a company? ›
The corporation's investor relations department should be able to provide a shareholder with information on how to contact the transfer agent. A transfer agent records a company's shareholders, the number of shares an investor owns, the stock certificate numbers, and the contact information for the stock owner.
