American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) | Robinhood (2024)

Getting started

Account and login

Robinhood Gold Credit Card

Spending

Robinhood Crypto

Investing

Investing with stocks: Special cases

Pattern day trading

Trading fees on Robinhood

Day trade calls

Pattern Day Trade Protection

Wash sales

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)

Retirement

Robinhood Wallet

Robinhood Gold

Bank transfers and linking

Documents and taxes

General questions

< Investing with stocks: Special cases

Help Center > Investing > Investing with stocks: Special cases

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are securities listed on US exchanges and the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market that represent ownership of shares in foreign companies. For companies based outside of the US, listing shares directly on American exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq is a complicated and expensive process. However, American investors may want to purchase shares of these companies to diversify their portfolios and gain exposure to new markets. ADRs make it easier for American investors.

To offer ADRs to investors, American banks first purchase shares of foreign companies on foreign exchanges. Then, the banks issue the ADRs, which are certificates denominated in American dollars that represent the foreign shares and can be traded on an American stock exchange or the OTC market.

An ADR may represent a single foreign share, a fraction of a share, or a bundle of shares depending on the price the bank wants to list for the ADR. Many banks will divide or group foreign shares so the ADR price aligns more closely with typical prices on American stock exchanges. Holding an ADR is similar to owning a share in the foreign company, so ADRs still may pay dividends and are subject to capital gains taxation in American dollars.

Robinhood offers certain ADRs for trading on our platform, but not all. We don’t offer ADRs that are subject to local financial transaction taxes, including ADRs on Spanish, French, and Italian listed companies.

What fees are associated with ADRs?

What fees are associated with ADRs?

Some banks require investors who hold ADRs to pay periodic services fees (sometimes called custody fees), which typically run between $0.01 to $0.03 per share. If you purchase a share from a company that’s based outside the US on Robinhood, you can find information about any ADR fees that may apply on the website of the bank issuing the ADR.

The following key dates are used for ADR fees:

  • Record date is when the issuer bank associates owners of the ADR. If you’re holding the ADR on this date, you’ll be charged the ADR fee.
  • Process date is when the fee is charged to your account.

Note

Standalone ADR fees are passed through to your account based on record date. If this fee results in a negative balance, you may sell shares or deposit cash to avoid the possibility of a margin call.

What are the potential benefits and risks of ADRs?

What are the potential benefits and risks of ADRs?

Just like all other securities, there are certain benefits and risks associated with ADRs.

Potential benefits:

  • Increased diversification: ADRs can help American investors build a more geographically diverse portfolio.
  • Lower cost: Investing directly in foreign markets can be expensive, so ADRs generally help to lower that barrier to entry.

Potential risks:

  • Exchange rate fluctuations: If the currency in the issuing company’s country drops relative to the US dollar, that can bring down the value of your investment.
  • Political upheaval: Regime changes in the issuing company’s country can negatively impact the exchange rate or destabilize the company in some other way, and non-local investors often don’t have as much context on how these factors can affect their investment.
  • Inflation risk: If the issuing company’s country is experiencing rising inflation, that can lower the value of their currency.
  • Access to different information: Not all non-US companies provide shareholders with the same type of information that American companies do, and language barriers can make it difficult to access the information that’s available.
  • Some ADRs are listed on the OTC market that may carry additional risk compared to public exchanges. Refer to the relevant stock detail pages for more information on listings.

Why is my ADR no longer trading?

Why is my ADR no longer trading?

Occasionally, the American bank responsible for custody of the shares will terminate the ADR while the underlying foreign stock is still active. This is generally handled in one of the following ways:

  • Shareholders automatically receive cash for their ADR shares.
  • Shareholders have a 6-month window where they can voluntarily convert their ADR shares into the underlying foreign shares. After that 6-month window, the foreign shares are automatically sold and holders receive cash.
  • The ADR shares are automatically converted into the underlying foreign shares. Because Robinhood can’t support the underlying foreign shares, customers will need to work with the company’s transfer agent to receive physical stock certificates.

Note

Robinhood doesn’t support the trading of foreign shares. Because we can’t support the underlying foreign shares, we’ll cover the cost of an ACAT (automated customer account transfer) to a broker that supports the underlying foreign shares. Note that you’ll be responsible for any fees that the outside broker may charge.

Still have questions?

Still have questions?

The decision to terminate an ADR isn’t made by Robinhood. If you have questions about why an ADR was terminated, we suggest contacting the holding bank’s investor relations team to learn more.

Disclosures

Disclosures

Diversification doesn’t ensure a profit and cannot protect against losses in a declining market. All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.

Was this article helpful?

Reference No. 3658089

Still have questions? Contact Robinhood Support

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) | Robinhood (2024)

FAQs

What is the American Depositary Receipt answer in brief? ›

American depositary receipts (ADRs) are negotiable certificates issued by a U.S. depositary bank representing a specified number of shares—usually one share—of a foreign company's stock. The ADR trades on U.S. stock markets as any domestic shares would.

Is it better to buy ADR or common stock? ›

Despite the advantages of ADRs, regular stocks may still be preferable for investors who look for the purest form of equity ownership, with currency exposure, voting rights and liquidity. Regular stocks have lesser fees compared to ADRs and they have a higher level of transparency.

Is it safe to invest in ADRs? ›

Because ADRs are issued by non-US companies, they entail special risks inherent to all foreign investments. These include: Exchange rate risk—the risk that the currency in the issuing company's country will drop relative to the US dollar.

What does American Depository Receipt ADRs represent foreign stocks ______________? ›

American Depository Receipts (ADRs) represent foreign stocks denominated in U.S. dollars that trade on American stock exchanges.

What is an ADR answer in one sentence? ›

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to the different ways people can resolve disputes without a trial. Common ADR processes include mediation, arbitration, and neutral evaluation.

What are the pros and cons of American depositary receipts? ›

The pros of ADR include easy tracking and trading, availability through US brokers, denomination in dollars, and may help provide portfolio diversification. The cons of ADR include double taxation, a limited selection of companies and other fees that investors may incur.

What are the disadvantages of ADRs? ›

Disadvantages of ADR: If ADR is unsuccessful, it can delay the court proceedings. Except for arbitration, ADR is not usually legally binding. All parties to the dispute must agree to using ADR.

Does an ADR pay a dividend? ›

How are ADR dividends paid? Investors who purchase the ADRs are paid dividends in U.S. dollars. The foreign bank pays dividends in the native currency, and the custodian bank distributes the dividends in U.S. dollars after factoring in currency conversion costs, foreign taxes, and any pass-through fees.

Can you convert ADR to ordinary shares? ›

Many ADR's can be converted into ordinary shares in the local home market and foreign ordinary shares can sometimes be converted to ADR shares.

How much are ADR fees? ›

What fees are associated with ADRs? Some banks require investors who hold ADRs to pay periodic services fees (sometimes called custody fees), which typically run between $0.01 to $0.03 per share.

How do banks make money on ADRs? ›

ADR depositary banks charge holders of ADRs custody fees, sometimes referred to as Depositary Services Fees, to compensate the depositary banks for inventorying the non-U.S. shares and performing registration, compliance, dividend payment, communication, and recordkeeping services.

How to tell if a stock is an ADR? ›

For example, Honda Motor does not have a foreign suffix yet is also an ADR. That's why the best way to make absolutely certain a stock is an ADR is to look it up on one of the aforementioned ADR sites. Simply key in your ticker or company name in the search field and hit enter.

How are ADR dividends taxed? ›

EXCEPT for the fact that the U.S. offers its investors a tax credit when they pay a foreign country a dividend tax on an ADR. So although dividend taxes are withheld by the foreign country in an ADR, the IRS has allowed for a foreign tax credit that offsets this tax. That way, the U.S. investor isn't double taxed.

Are ADR fees tax deductible? ›

Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018, most investment expenses, which would include ADR fees, are no longer tax-deductible for individual taxpayers.

What is the difference between American Depository Receipts and American Depositary shares? ›

An American depositary receipt (ADR) allows foreign companies to list their shares on U.S. stock exchanges. An American depositary share (ADS) is the U.S. dollar-denominated equity share of a foreign-based company available for purchase on an American stock exchange.

What is an American depositary receipt Quizlet? ›

ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks that represent ownership of a foreign security and are traded in U.S. securities markets. Reference: 1.8. 1 in the License Exam Manual.

What is the global depository receipt answer in brief? ›

A Global Depository Receipt (GDR) is a depositary receipt issued by a depository bank that purchases shares of foreign companies. Indian companies can get their shares listed on foreign exchanges through GDRs. A GDR is a foreign currency-denominated negotiable instrument.

What is GDR in simple words? ›

A global depositary receipt is a tradable financial security. It is a certificate that represents shares in a foreign company and usually trades on two or more global stock exchanges. GDRs typically trade on American stock exchanges as well as Eurozone or Asian exchanges.

What is depository receipts short note? ›

A depositary receipt (DR) is a negotiable certificate issued by a bank. It represents shares in a foreign company traded on a local stock exchange and gives investors the opportunity to hold shares in the equity of foreign countries. It gives them an alternative to trading on an international market.

Top Articles
Yarn
AWS Salary in India 2024: Freshers & Experienced
Why Are Fuel Leaks A Problem Aceable
Where are the Best Boxing Gyms in the UK? - JD Sports
Access-A-Ride – ACCESS NYC
Online Reading Resources for Students & Teachers | Raz-Kids
Fully Enclosed IP20 Interface Modules To Ensure Safety In Industrial Environment
Achivr Visb Verizon
Slay The Spire Red Mask
ExploreLearning on LinkedIn: This month&#39;s featured product is our ExploreLearning Gizmos Pen Pack, the…
Gma Deals And Steals Today 2022
Rhinotimes
Directions To 401 East Chestnut Street Louisville Kentucky
How do I get into solitude sewers Restoring Order? - Gamers Wiki
Faurot Field Virtual Seating Chart
Yog-Sothoth
Www.patientnotebook/Atic
11 Ways to Sell a Car on Craigslist - wikiHow
What Is The Lineup For Nascar Race Today
Horn Rank
Lexus Credit Card Login
Albert Einstein Sdn 2023
Victory for Belron® company Carglass® Germany and ATU as European Court of Justice defends a fair and level playing field in the automotive aftermarket
Foodsmart Jonesboro Ar Weekly Ad
Watson 853 White Oval
Ou Football Brainiacs
Yayo - RimWorld Wiki
Cinema | Düsseldorfer Filmkunstkinos
Criglist Miami
Southtown 101 Menu
Ryujinx Firmware 15
Shauna's Art Studio Laurel Mississippi
Everstart Jump Starter Manual Pdf
Royal Caribbean Luggage Tags Pending
Mgm Virtual Roster Login
Nsu Occupational Therapy Prerequisites
Barrage Enhancement Lost Ark
Bbc Gahuzamiryango Live
15 Best Things to Do in Roseville (CA) - The Crazy Tourist
Nsav Investorshub
Immobiliare di Felice| Appartamento | Appartamento in vendita Porto San
Rush Copley Swim Lessons
Hk Jockey Club Result
Atu Bookstore Ozark
✨ Flysheet for Alpha Wall Tent, Guy Ropes, D-Ring, Metal Runner & Stakes Included for Hunting, Family Camping & Outdoor Activities (12'x14', PE) — 🛍️ The Retail Market
Gas Buddy Il
Abigail Cordova Murder
Craigslist Free Cats Near Me
Craigslist Com Brooklyn
Zalog Forum
Access One Ummc
Scholar Dollar Nmsu
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 6310

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.