Dividend History

[winnie]

contribute appreciated stock to charity

Not that it helps you at all after the fact, but if a client has one of these "held for a zillion years and no idea of basis stock" - have them contribute to charity. Assume they would have a gain. You transfer the stock directly to the charity and the charity sells it. You only have to know the FMV of the stock on the date of transfer.

I, too, have used yahoo in the past for some good information. Also, company websites. If you have a Edward Jones person, they are always telling me they can get cost basis. Just spoke to one on another issue and his closing was to let him know if I needed cost basis help. I have never used the Edward Jones avenue, but may be useful.

Good luck.

[FEDUKE404]

Another option

Yahoo is fairly good, but I've found an alternative way is to Google something like "IBM dividend history" and then look for a web address in the list that resembles the company web site. (Also, I've found errors in Yahoo finance information...)

Frequently going to the company web page sends you on a wild goose chase before you finally exit the "consumer" area, then find the IR area, and eventually reach the dividend and/or historical stock price area.

Of course, for DRIP program historical information you are facing a potential very large mountain of a different type ("I didn't know I had to keep those statements!"). If you're lucky, the DRIP statements can be found (for a few $$) but if long ago probably not.

FE

[bruehaus]

Dividend history

Try finance.yahoo.com and select historical prices. You'll see a way to see just the dividend history of a stock. Also, bigcharts.com or siliconinvestor.com are other good sources.

[LawrenceGR]

I wonder if any of you have a good place to look for stock dividend history? I had a guy come in today that thinks he sold some stock he has held for about 30 years and of course he has no idea how much in divs has been reinvested. I will try the company when I get closer to actually working on the return. Thanks for help you may have to offer.