Stock Certificate Definition

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Stock certificate definition: a physical piece of paper that represents a shareholder’s ownership in a company. Before the rise of the internet, companies used to issue physical certificates to investors.

Prior to internet trading, physical certificates were how shareholders would prove their ownership of a stock. Read on to find out how the definition of stock certificate affects how we trade securities even in the online trading era.

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Purpose of Stock Certificates

Even into the mid-2000s, trading stocks was still a manual process. You’d call up your broker and place an order for 1,000 shares of a certain stock. Once the stock purchase cleared, you’d receive a stock certificate. A stock certificate’s meaning was like that of a receipt.

Paper stock certificates historically contained some or all of the following information on the face of the certificate:

The shareholder’s name (yours or that of the person you purchased the certificate for)
The date of stock purchase
The number of shares owned
The type of stock owned (i.e., common or preferred)
CUSIP number, which is a unique transaction identifier used in stock purchases
The signature of the company representative authorized to issue the share certificate

Before digital transaction records became universally accepted, a stock certificate’s advantage was that it served as the only proof investors could show of their shareholdings.

If an investor wanted to sell their shares, they would have to send their certificates to their broker. The broker would notify the company and then send the stock certificates back to the company for resale. This complex process also represented one of stock certificates’ disadvantages!

Are Stock Certificates Worth Anything Today?

Book-Entry Form

Yes, stock certificates do still have value, but not in the way you might think. Today, most trading is done electronically. The definition of stock certificate has faded away to mean that trades are recorded using a process known as book-entry form. Electronic methods eliminate the need to issue paper certificates to keep track of trades and holdings.

With book-entry, ownership of securities is never physically transferred. Another one of stock certificates’ disadvantages was that, if you were an avid investor, you might have wound up with an office full of paper. With book-entry form, accounting entries are changed in the books of the financial institutions where securities are traded and investors have accounts.

Today’s Value

Historically, stock certificates were not only a way to prove ownership of a security. They were often a unique piece of artwork. It was common to receive a stock certificate adorned with fancy designs and ornate engravings.

Stock certificates new and old still have value. Remember, the definition of stock certificate is that it represents ownership in a company. If you have an old stock certificate for an existing company that never got converted to book-entry form, your broker can help.

Old stock certificates of companies that don’t exist anymore may also have value. The company could have merged with another company or been acquired. Make sure to do your research or ask your broker before throwing away any stock certificates or paperwork.

Because of their artistry, some stock certificates have become collectors items. Certificates from The Walt Disney Company featured beautiful depictions of Disney animations. Other companies also had collectible certificates. Your old stock certificates may not be worth shares of a company anymore, but they may have value as collectors items!

Do Companies Still Issue Stock Certificates?

Most companies don’t issue stock certificates. Even the Walt Disney Company stopped issuing their collectible stock certificates in 2013. Many investors recall receiving their first share of stock in the form of a Disney stock certificate.

Instead of receiving stock certificates, your broker or electronic brokerage will send you account statements that list the stocks you own.

Stock Certificates: Summary

A stock certificate is a physical piece of paper that represents a shareholder’s ownership of a company.
Stock certificates include information like the number of shares owned, the date of purchase, an identification number, and relevant signatures.
Today, stock certificates are typically collectibles, and securities ownership is instead recorded electronically using a process known as book-entry form.

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.