The Walt Disney Company Will No Longer Issue Paper Stock Certificates to Shareholders

If you're a collector of all things Disney, the time to purchase Disney stock and receive a paper stock certificate is coming to an end.

The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will stop issuing paper stock certificates to shareholders as of October 16.

The company's very popular stock certificates feature a black-and-white image of Walt Disney surrounded by colorful images of iconic Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell, and Dumbo. GiveAShare, an online company that sells stock certificates, says the Disney stock certificates appeal to kids because of the characters featured, and they're a popular gift from parents and grandparents.

The end of the paper stock certificate is not new with U.S. companies, but Disney is one of the last holdouts still issuing paper stock certificates. Most companies have switched to electronic stocks in an effort to cut costs.

After October 16, instead of a stock certificate, Disney will be offering shareholders a certificate of acquisition if they ask, but it holds no value.

Once the stock certificates "disappear" they are likely to become collector's items, just as the Pixar stock certificates did back in 2006.

When Disney purchased Pixar in 2006 there was a rush to purchase Pixar stock certificates that featured popular characters including Buzz Lightyear and Woody. The certificate also featured the signature of Pixar's CEO at the time, Steve Jobs. Collectors looking to buy a Pixar stock certificate today, 11 years after Jobs' death would have to shell out at least $600, according to Scripophily.com, a company that buys and sells collectible stock certificates.

Story by Traci C., Source