[GNC] How to record a stock spinoff?

[John Ralls]

> On Feb 12, 2026, at 13:45, David G. Pickett via gnucash-user <gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:
> 
> GNUCash seems to lack tools to allow me to deal with our 40 CMCSA spinning off 6.2 VSNT, never mind how to handle the $6.70 from the .2 VSNT.  I might be in trouble because I started the CMCSA with opening balance, not a historical buy.  The basis is deep buried in family and ATT history, derived off a stock option of the wife's first husband, also a David!  They have web sites for that sort of thing, but I have no record of his stock receipt!  Sometimes I use his death date, when title shifted to his wife, but I am sure that is not a legal fudge.  I suspect the difficulty establishing a basis compounds the problems of showing the spinoff.  I look forward to having to report capital gains on .2 shares $6.70 !  Is there a basis editor hiding in there somewhere?  Maybe I can get the broker to do $6.70 in fractional shares!  One tutoring student made me aware that Robinhood has people trading in tiny fractional shares, like 6 places!  She wants to keep the shares, as before he died, he said "Never sell, this is good stuff!"  I suppose it is another curse on her estate and executor, who might be me!


It’s basically the same as a stock split, you just get a different stock instead of more CMCSA. Both the Stock Split Assistant and the Stock Assistant know how to handle it. The $6.20 is called “cash-in-lieu” because they’re paying you cash instead of giving you fractional shares.

Regards,
John Ralls