What happens when a stock hits zero?

Asked by: Bethany Towne Jr.  |  Last update: August 1, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (56 votes)

When a stock's value falls to zero, or near zero, it typically signals that the company is bankrupt. The stocks are frozen and unless the company restructures, it's likely you will lose your investment.

What to do when a stock hits zero?

Delisting: Stocks that reach zero may be delisted from exchanges, further complicating any potential for recovery. In summary, holding onto shares after they hit zero is unlikely to yield any positive outcome. It's typically advisable to sell or write off such investments to avoid holding onto a loss indefinitely.

Do I lose my money if a stock is delisted?

The only thing delisting does is that the stock doesn't trade on whatever exchange it got delisted from. It would still exist and you would still own it. No one is going to pay you out. It would trade over the counter.

Can you claim a loss if stock goes to zero?

If you own securities, including stocks, and they become totally worthless, you have a capital loss but not a deduction for bad debt. Worthless securities also include securities that you abandon.

What happens if your shares go to zero?

If a stock hits 0, it means that the company is effectively bankrupt so your shares become worthless, and you will lose only the money you invested.

STOCKS GO TO $0 - What Happens Now? (How To Invest 101)

41 related questions found

Can a stock come back from zero?

Yes, it is possible for a stock to recover from zero. The company can file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, restructure, and continue operating. At that point, the stock will unfreeze and you can trade it like normal again.

Do you owe money if a stock goes negative?

If a stock goes negative, do you owe money? This question haunts many beginner traders. The short answer is generally no, but there are exceptions. This guide will you what happens when a stock's value declines and how to protect your investments.

Do I get money back from stock losses?

Your claimed capital losses will come off your taxable income, reducing your tax bill. Your maximum net capital loss in any tax year is $3,000. The IRS limits your net loss to $3,000 (for individuals and married filing jointly) or $1,500 (for married filing separately).

How do I know if my stock is worthless?

According to the IRS, a security is deemed worthless when it retains no present or prospective value, and it is unreasonable to anticipate any resurgence in its valuation.

At what point do you cut your losses on a stock?

Highly successful stock pickers go through similar training: They must learn how to cut their losses short. This means selling a stock when it's down 7% or 8% from your purchase price.

Should you sell a stock before it gets delisted?

If you are aware of the possibility that a company may be delisted, choosing to sell your stock is probably a wise move. Involuntary delisting and the events leading up to it lower a company's value, and, if bankruptcy occurs, there's a good chance of losing your entire investment.

How do I recover money from delisted shares?

However, there is one way to claim the losses on shares which are delisted and still lying in your demat account. You can transfer these shares from your demat account through off market transaction for a very nominal price to any of your friends or relatives.

What happens to my stock if Robinhood shuts down?

Robinhood is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC). This means that any loss of an investor's securities (e.g., stocks and bonds) and cash held by Robinhood is protected up to $500,000 in the event the firm fails or goes out of business. This includes up to $250,000 protection for cash holdings.

Can I lose more than I invest in stocks?

The short answer is yes, you can lose more than you invest in stocks – but only with certain accounts and trading types. In a typical cash brokerage account, it's possible to lose your entire investment, but no more.

What happens if I short a stock and it goes to 0?

For instance, say you sell 100 shares of stock short at a price of $10 per share. Your proceeds from the sale will be $1,000. If the stock goes to zero, you'll get to keep the full $1,000. However, if the stock soars to $100 per share, you'll have to spend $10,000 to buy the 100 shares back.

How do you make money on a failing stock?

Short selling is a strategy for making money on stocks falling in price, also called “going short” or “shorting.” This is an advanced strategy only experienced investors and traders should try. An investor borrows a stock, sells it, and then buys the stock back to return it to the lender.

Do you owe money if your stock loses value?

Do I owe money if a stock goes down? If a stock drops in price, you won't necessarily owe money. The price of the stock has to drop more than the percentage of margin you used to fund the purchase in order for you to owe money.

How do I claim a loss on a delisted stock?

You must fill out IRS Form 8949 and Schedule D to deduct stock losses on your taxes.

What to do when a stock goes to zero?

What Happens If a Stock Price Goes to Zero? If a stock's price falls all the way to zero, shareholders end up with worthless holdings. Once a stock falls below a certain threshold, stock exchanges will delist those shares.

Can you write off 100% of stock losses?

If you own a stock where the company has declared bankruptcy and the stock has become worthless, you can generally deduct the full amount of your loss on that stock — up to annual IRS limits with the ability to carry excess losses forward to future years.

Should I sell my stocks now in a recession?

As long as you have sufficient time and money—whether from wages, retirement income, or cash reserves—it's important to stay the course so you can potentially benefit from the eventual recovery. That said, it generally makes sense to sell some investments and buy others as part of your regular portfolio maintenance.

At what age do you not pay capital gains?

Current tax law does not allow you to take a capital gains tax break based on your age. In the past, the IRS granted people over the age of 55 a tax exemption for home sales, though this exclusion was eliminated in 1997 in favor of the expanded exemption for all homeowners.

Do you pay taxes on stocks?

Capital gains taxes are levied on earnings made from the sale of assets, like stocks or real estate. Based on the holding term and the taxpayer's income level, the tax is computed using the difference between the asset's sale price and its acquisition price, and it is subject to different rates.

How safe is Robinhood?

Yes, Robinhood is safe for most investors, with strong regulatory oversight, insurance protections, and robust security measures. However, it's essential to remember that “safe” doesn't mean risk-free—market volatility, impulsive trades, and a limited range of available securities could pose challenges for users.