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    adia40's Avatar
    adia40 Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jul 31, 2012, 10:05 AM
    General Mills Stock
    What is the value of stocks in General Mills purchased in 1975? My grandfather left them to me and I am having a hard time understanding the stock procedures.
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #2

    Jul 31, 2012, 12:10 PM
    You can get historical stock prices for General Mills stock prices here:

    General Mills - Historical Price

    Did your grandfather gift the stock to you while still alive? If so, then your cost basis is equal to his original cost basis. But if he bequeathed them to you when he died then your cost basis is equal to the fair market value of the stock as of his date of death. You can use the average of the high and low price for that date to determine your cost basis.
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    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #3

    Jul 31, 2012, 12:23 PM
    Are you asking to determine your cost basis?
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    #4

    Jul 31, 2012, 02:05 PM
    I do not really know what to do with them? Keep them for my children? Make further investments, etc?
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    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #5

    Jul 31, 2012, 02:14 PM
    Not knowing your particulatr situation it's impossible to give specific advice. Factors to consider in tis typeof decision include:

    - how do stocks in general and General Mills in particular fit in with your overall investment strategy?
    - are you looking to diversfiy your investments? What percent of your portfolio is in General Mills?
    - General Mills pays a good dividend (currently 3.4%) - how important is that to you?
    - Will you need the money that's currently tied up in General Mills stock in the next couple of years?
    - Are you in a position to gift stock to your children? Perhaps set up education funds for them?
    - Do you have other investment ideas that you want to pursue?

    So you see the question of what to do with one particular stock investment does not have a simple answer.
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    #6

    Jul 31, 2012, 02:15 PM
    He gifted them to me. He is still alive.
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    #7

    Jul 31, 2012, 02:17 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by adia40 View Post
    He gifted them to me. He is still alive.
    You should ask him what his cost basis was for this stock so that when you sell it you'll be able to report it properly on your income taxes.
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    #8

    Jul 31, 2012, 02:18 PM
    Wow! It is all so confusing. I have never invested (except my roth ira?)
    This is my first experience at all with stocks. I am very dumbfounded by the plethora of information on the internet. It takes me in too many directions.
    I assume I would want to continue to invest. My children are under 6 years of age.
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    #9

    Jul 31, 2012, 02:19 PM
    So the "common par value" written on the stock is not the cost basis?
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    #10

    Jul 31, 2012, 04:47 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by adia40 View Post
    So the "common par value" written on the stock is not the cost basis?
    No. its not. How many shares are there?
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    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #11

    Jul 31, 2012, 05:50 PM
    Right - Par value is an accountant's term that has nothing to do with actual market value of a stock. When the Dutch settlers presumably bought Manhattan island from the indians for $24 in beads, the par value of all of Manhattan is $24. You can bet that if you went to Donald Trump and offered to buy the Trump Tower for $24 "par value" he would be a bit put off. And if you tried to tell the IRS that you bought Trump Tower for $24 they probably wouldn't believe you!
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    #12

    Aug 1, 2012, 08:25 AM
    4 shares. 2 from 1971, 2 from 75
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    #13

    Aug 1, 2012, 08:47 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by adia40 View Post
    4 shares. 2 from 1971, 2 from 75
    I think you actually have a lot more than just 4 shares - General Mills has had a number of splits and spin-offs since 1975. You should now actually have something like 128 shares. Given the current stock prices of about $38.70 that means you should have 128 x 38.7 = $5000 in this stock.

    I'm wondering whether the stock transfer agent for General Mills may have lost track of you. Have you been receiving dividends every quarter? Is the amount of dividends calculated on 4 shares, or something more? They currently pay $0.22/share per quarter, so you should be able to figure out how many shares they think you have based on the dividends they've been sending you.
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    #14

    Aug 1, 2012, 09:00 AM
    HAHAHA! Good to know.
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    #15

    Aug 1, 2012, 09:01 AM
    I have not been receiving any correspondance. So should I contact the stock transfer agent myself and update contact information?
    I would really like to further this investment.
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    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #16

    Aug 1, 2012, 09:44 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by adia40 View Post
    I have not been receiving any correspondance. So should I contact the stock transfer agent myself and update contact information?
    I would really like to further this investment.

    Yes definitely. If you don't know who the agent is, This should help you:


    http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=74271&p=irol-irhome
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    #17

    Aug 1, 2012, 10:12 AM
    Yes, contact the transfer agent or the investor relations department at General Mills. If you have not been getting dividends or any of the stock splits over the past 37 years they have clearly lost track of you. Contact info is here:

    General Mills - Shareholder information

    Phone: 800-245-5703 or 763-764-3202
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    #18

    Aug 1, 2012, 10:34 AM
    Thank you so much for all of the help gentlemen. I have contacted the IR dept at General Mills so hopefully I will receive some correspondance and assistance from them.
    I've gained quite a bit of info from this chat!
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    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #19

    Aug 1, 2012, 12:12 PM
    You're welcome, let us know how it goes. You may be in for a windfall.
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