Call a discount or full-service brokerage house and provide the CUSIP number, which is unique to each individual stock certificate, and stock brokerages can use this number to find out exactly the status of the company. Most larger discount brokerage houses will do this search for free, but be sure to ask first.

Are old stocks worth anything?

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.

What happens if share certificates are lost?

If you have lost or misplaced your share certificates of any listed company, you need to immediately inform the respective company—of which you had the shares. When a company receives an intimation that you have lost the shares, the folio number or the details provided to the company are frozen—in lieu of the lost one.

How can I find out what my old shares are worth?

Trace your old shares with registrars Capita, Computershare and Equiniti, which will be able to search their records. If they locate unclaimed dividends, they will issue cheques to the value of the amount that is due. Some companies impose a 12-year time limit on dividend claims.

How to determine the value of an old stock certificate?

Once you have determined that the company is still in existence and its current name, you will need to: Consult our website and search the Cease Trade Order Database to find out if the company is under CTO. Follow this link for general information on CTOs. If there are no active CTOs issued against the company, you may be able to trade your shares.

How to search for value of old oil company stock?

Research the old oil stock certificate online if you do not have a stockbroker. A good place to start is the Financial Stock Guide Service, which is updated yearly and provides a comprehensive listing of actively traded and obsolete stocks.

How to research old company stocks for free?

How to Research Old Stock Certificates for Free. Search on the Internet to see if the company still exists. If the company is still operating under the name listed, do a web-based stock market quote search. If the company is not operating under the name listed, it may have been acquired by another company or it indeed may have ceased operations.