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January 18, 2022
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Stock Distribution of shares

  • January 18, 2022
  • 1 reply
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Hi, 

I had 500 shares of stock (Sina Corp) that had two stock distributions of stock of Weibo Corp.  I received 50 shares of Weibo with each distribution.  The Sina Corp later went private and cashed out my shares in 2021. I still have my stock in the Weibo Corp. (100 shares)  My question is do I need to do anything special to figure out the cost basis of the Sina Stock? Do I just find the price of the stock purchase price and the price of the stock on the day it went private? Not sure how the stock distributions affect the cost basis of the Sina Stock.  

 

Thanks

    Best answer by Mike9241

    if the WB distribution was taxable then your basis for Sina would not change from the original

     

    if it was a tax-free distribution then your cost/tax basis is supposed to be allocated. there is no one absolutely correct method

    maybe WB or Sina sent the shareholders info on tax basis allocation on each distribution

    if not then here are two methods

     

    1st distribution

    fair market value at the end of the day of the distribution for WB (a)

    same for Sina (b)

    basis allocated to WB original tax basis of SINA times (a) divided by the sum of (a) + (b)

    basis allocated to Sina - total original basis less above or tax basis of SINA times (b) divided by the sum of (a) + (b) (They should be the same)

     

    do the same for the second distribution but take into a/c that your original tax basis for SINA was reduced by the tax basis allocated to WB on the first distribution 

     

    another method: use the average of the opening and closing prices for the two stocks on the distribution dates.

     

    announcement about the distributions 

    https://www.investors.com/news/technology/chinas-sina-announces-distribution-of-weibo-shares/ 

     https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sina-announces-distribution-of-weibo-shares-300464527.html 

     

    webpage to get WB prices

    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/WB/history?period1=1451606400&period2=1483142400&interval=1d&filter=history&frequency=1d&includeAdjustedClose=true 

     

    could not find a webpage for SINA however, it did trade on the NASDAQ  

    1 reply

    Mike9241
    Level 15
    Mike9241Level 15Answer
    Level 15
    January 18, 2022

    if the WB distribution was taxable then your basis for Sina would not change from the original

     

    if it was a tax-free distribution then your cost/tax basis is supposed to be allocated. there is no one absolutely correct method

    maybe WB or Sina sent the shareholders info on tax basis allocation on each distribution

    if not then here are two methods

     

    1st distribution

    fair market value at the end of the day of the distribution for WB (a)

    same for Sina (b)

    basis allocated to WB original tax basis of SINA times (a) divided by the sum of (a) + (b)

    basis allocated to Sina - total original basis less above or tax basis of SINA times (b) divided by the sum of (a) + (b) (They should be the same)

     

    do the same for the second distribution but take into a/c that your original tax basis for SINA was reduced by the tax basis allocated to WB on the first distribution 

     

    another method: use the average of the opening and closing prices for the two stocks on the distribution dates.

     

    announcement about the distributions 

    https://www.investors.com/news/technology/chinas-sina-announces-distribution-of-weibo-shares/ 

     https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sina-announces-distribution-of-weibo-shares-300464527.html 

     

    webpage to get WB prices

    https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/WB/history?period1=1451606400&period2=1483142400&interval=1d&filter=history&frequency=1d&includeAdjustedClose=true 

     

    could not find a webpage for SINA however, it did trade on the NASDAQ  

    Mike9241