Single Share of Stock as a Gift - Where?

[Rako92]

Hi all,

I found something interesting. From a site in the US you can buy a real single share of a company (Intel, Microsoft, GoPro, Coca Cola, Harley Davidson, Ferrari etc).

I want to make such a gift to a friend of mine. My question is how can I do this in the UK by myself? The US site charges about $50 on top of the share price and about $30 for the cheapest dleivery to the UK, so it hardly worths.

I am not really into stock investment, but can I buy a share for a gift it officially by myself here in the UK? Any advice would be much appreciated


Thanks

 

[MikeJ]

You could do it with most brokers, but you should be aware that you're essentially throwing the money away. The dealer charges would be so high that it's hardly worth selling the shares.

 

[Rako92]

Thanks, Mike.

However, the idea is just to give the share (as a paper certificate) as a gift for a friend how is a regular customer of that specific company. It is not about real investment and pursue of profit, etc.

I just don't want to pay the high transfer fee this US site charges (about $50) and around $30 for delivery to the UK for a share which has a current value of, say, $40. They ask me to pay $120 for it, this doesn't worth at all.

The brokers I contacted do not offer the option to buy for a friend and I understand, they are into real investment, not into such gifts.

 

[BigTree]

You can use something like Barclays Stockbrokers to buy one share which I did recently. The share cost be £5 and the fees were something like £15. It'll remain in your portfolio and therefore you can't gift it to someone.

I like the idea but I think that the system for it isn't in place. I suppose a company could buy a load of shares and then sell you a certificate for one which would most-likely be meaningless.

 

[MikeJ]

The thing is, most deals these days are electronic. You don't get share certificates.

Hargreaves Lansdown charge £40 for a UK trade. A US share is going to be more expensive and more complicated. Interesting idea as a novelty gift though.

How about holding them electronically, and creating a "representative" share certificate to give people?

 

[Rako92]

This is an option as well, but it seems the brokers cannot sell a share on other's name as a gift and it makes sense. I can buy in my name but it would not be the same effect.