State of Connecticut Department of Banking

Inquiries About Old Stock Certificates

From time to time, the Securities Division receives inquiries regarding the value of stock certificates. As a result of name changes or mergers, the stocks may no longer trade under the names printed on the certificates, or the companies may no longer exist.

The Securities Division is not in a position to research whether your stock certificate has any value. We can, however, suggest the following practical tips to enable you to make your own determination of a stock certificate's worth.

  • Contact a local stockbroker or banker to determine if the stock certificate has value.
  • See if a transfer agent is listed on the certificate. If so, and the transfer agent is still in business, it may be able to tell you if the stock has value.
  • If the company was incorporated in Connecticut, the Secretary of the State may be able to provide you with information on its current status as a company, its last known address and the name/address of its statutory agent.  If the company was incorporated in another state, try similarly searching for information with that state's official.   For links, visit the National Association of Secretaries of State.
  • If the company is publicly traded, you may be able to find its recent filings electronically at the Securities and Exchange Commission Edgar database.
  • Research the stock certificate at your local library. The Securities and Exchange Commission publishes a list of directories that you can use at your library to look up both actively traded and obsolete stocks.
  • In limited cases, a stock certificate may have value as a collectible, particularly if it has historical value; was signed by a someone famous; or has a unique graphic design.
  • A number of private companies, for a fee, will research whether your stock certificate is worth anything. If your certificate has value, some companies may also try to recover your money, typically for a percentage of what they are able to obtain. You can use a Web search engine to find stock search firms; type "old stock certificate" as a search phrase.