If you are the owner of a stock certificate or wish to purchase one, it’s important to learn the process of how to research a stock certificate. While not as widespread as in the past, a stock certificate signifies an ownership stake in a certain company. If you need to research a stock certificate to find its value, start by obtaining a history of the security.
How to research a stock certificate:
- Research the company that issued the security. If you are aware of the exact date when the certificate was issued, you will be able to research whether the company is still in existence or if the stock has split. You can find this information from more online financial websites, such as Yahoo or MSN.
- Research the investor information for the company that issued the stock. This is typically located through the company’s website, the phonebook, or by calling the company’s investor relations department.
- Speak to the company’s transfer agent. This person or company is in charge with handling the transfer of a company’s stock. This job is often done internally, but sometimes is handled by a third party.
- Know the following information. Try and find out the certificate number, number of shares and the name of the registered owner. However, if you are not the registered owner of the stock certificate, it is unlikely that the transfer agent will provide you with much information.
If you are interested in learning how to research a stock certificate to find its value, it is foremost important to discover more about the company that issued the stock.
For more information on how to research a stock certificate and its value, visit http://www.investorsedge.com