Coming up with decent gift ideas isn’t always straightforward. Younger children usually desire the latest fad that they’ll probably soon lose interest in, while older generations tend to buy what they need and are notoriously difficult to satisfy.

In many ways, you can’t go wrong with gifting shares in a company. Sure, it may not generate as much initial excitement as, say, the latest PlayStation console, smartphone, domestic appliance, and so forth. However, it is one of the few things that has a decent chance of growing in value, turning money into more money, and there are few gifts in stores that list that as one of their attributes.

Buying a gift for adults that they actually want without breaking the bank is no easy task, but a stock could perhaps help them to one day generate enough funds to purchase that one thing they don’t have and yearn for. For kids, it’s a slightly harder sell, as they probably don’t have any long-term dream they are saving up for. That’s bound to change at some point in the future, though, and learning about managing money and investing early should serve them well in later years.

The best gifts are usually those that offer lasting value and will be appreciated in years to come. Based on that logic, stocks are pretty hard to beat.

Which Stock Should I Buy?

There’s a lot of companies out there, and choosing the right stock(s) requires careful consideration. The goal is to make this gift both as compelling and profitable as possible, so you’ll want to consider the interests of the person you are buying for as well as the growth potential.

Have a good think about what the recipient likes, and find a company that operates in that area. Then go through its accounts, apply some valuation metrics, or speak to an advisor to determine if it would make a good investment. Your best bet would be to draw up a shortlist of several companies first and then analyze each of them until you find one that is attractively priced and poised to grow in value for years to come.

If you need some inspiration, take a look at what GiveAshare believes are the top 10 stocks to gift loved ones:

1. The Disney Walt Disney Company (DIS)    
2. Apple, Inc. (AAPL)
3. Manchester United plc (MANU)
4. The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
5. Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (SPCE)
6. Nike, Inc. (NKE)
7. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NTDOY)
8. Pfizer Inc. (PFE)
9. GameStop Corp. (GME)
10. Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)

Fractional Shares

You might find that buying even one share in a company is more than you can afford or have budgeted for. In this case, fractional shares, if available, may be your best option.

Companies issue a set number of shares when they go public, with each one representing a portion of ownership. However, it is sometimes possible to buy a slice of one share or stock, called fractional shares, and essentially invest in a company based on a dollar amount of your choosing. Unless you are feeling especially generous, this may be necessary, as some shares such as those in Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) and Google parent Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) cost in excess of $2,000 apiece.

ESG

If you, or the recipient, care deeply about how companies behave and conduct their business, so-called environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments should probably be high on your shopping list. ESG investing basically involves only purchasing stocks that, according to an independent third party, score highly on environmental and societal responsibility. There are three boxes that need to be ticked before a company can qualify as ESG, and they are:

• Environmental: The E in ESG looks at how a company takes care of the planet. This can include how it generates energy and disposes of waste as well as its treatment of animals.
• Social: The S in ESG examines how the company manages relationships with its stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates.
• Governance: The G in ESG deals with how the company is run. Important factors considered here include fair executive pay, shareholders having their say, a well-balanced board of directors, and the use of accurate and transparent accounting methods.

In short, the goal is to make as much money as possible investing in companies that are deemed “good” for society. Obviously, going down the ESG route means limiting your choice of available investments. However, there’s also the argument that using an ESG-based screening process to select stocks will result in you being invested in companies that are less at risk of being hit by a big scandal that damages their share price.

Where to Buy Stock Gifts

Buying and gifting stocks has never been easier and, thanks to the internet, can be achieved from the comfort of your home fairly quickly.

There are several options available to you. Some of the most common include:

• Brokerage Account Transfer: Buy the stock with your brokerage account and then transfer it to the recipient, assuming they also have an account. For kids, you’ll probably want to set up a custodial account, leaving you in control until they hit a certain age.
• From the Source: Some companies allow you to purchase their stock directly from their website.
• Online App: There are plenty of apps out there that specialize in gifting stock. Examples include GiveAshare, Uniquestockgift, SparkGift, and Stockpile.

Gifted Stock Tax Considerations

Before taking the leap and buying your loved ones a wonderful stock gift, it’s important to be aware of any present or future tax bills. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) might charge you for making the gift if it’s a large one. The recipient—if all goes to plan—will also be expected to pay capital gains tax when they eventually decide to sell and cash in on your present.

Gift Tax

For most people, the gift tax, a federal tax applied to gifts, won’t be an issue. Donors aren’t taxed on stock gifts unless they are worth more than $15,000—or $30,000 for couples—and exceed the lifetime gift tax exemption, which as of 2021 is set at $11.7 million. Spouses are excluded from this tax, too, so if you are gifting stock to your husband or wife, there’s nothing to worry about here.

Capital Gains

When a stock is eventually sold, the IRS must be notified, and the investor, in this case the recipient, will be taxed accordingly, depending on the holding period, their tax bracket, and the gain that was made relative to the original purchase price.

If the recipient sells the investment within one year at a profit, they will have made a “short-term capital gain,” which is taxed as ordinary income. Waiting beyond a year to sell generally leads to a better outcome, as “long-term gains” are taxed at lower capital gains rates.

Gift-givers should also know that the recipient’s capital gain is determined by how much the investment was originally bought for. In other words, if the stock was purchased for $100 and several years later sold for $1,000, the recipient would be taxed on a profit of $900.

Of course, there’s a chance that the gift doesn’t pay off. If things go pear-shaped and the stock is eventually sold at a loss, it still must be reported. Fortunately, capital losses can be used as deductions on the investor’s tax return, bringing down the total amount of capital gains or, failing that, shaving up to $3,000 per year off regular taxable income. Capital losses can also be deferred for use in future years until the total amount of the loss is exhausted.