# What is the simplest way to buy stock in a single company, for a long term investment?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-simplest-way-to-buy-stock-in-a-single-company-for-a-long-term-investment/611352>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 31, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-simplest-way-to-buy-stock-in-a-single-company-for-a-long-term-investment/611352 "2012-01-31T22:57:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-simplest-way-to-buy-stock-in-a-single-company-for-a-long-term-investment/611352/21 "2012-02-03T12:40:04Z")

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> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#):
>
> Why not just buy directly from the company, or at least their brokerage? That’s how all of my stocks are handled. This way you don’t need to find a second brokerage to handle the deals for you. If you know what you want then you shouldn’t have a problem this way.

Can you elaborate? Isn’t a direct purchase possible only with companies that offer a direct-purchase plan?

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**Author:** ![hopesperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-simplest-way-to-buy-stock-in-a-single-company-for-a-long-term-investment/611352/22 "2012-02-03T19:35:09Z")

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> [@LynnM](#):
>
> Can you elaborate? Isn’t a direct purchase possible only with companies that offer a direct-purchase plan?

You’re not asking me, but yes, a direct purchase is only possible if the company offers a direct purchase plan. Many (I’m almost certain it would be a significant majority) companies are not set up to issue shares of their own securities, so you would not likely be able to just walk in with cash and walk out with certificates. Assuming the company is publicly traded, there should be an investor relations section on its website indicating whether direct purchases are possible. If not, an online brokerage account would be the way to do it.

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**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-simplest-way-to-buy-stock-in-a-single-company-for-a-long-term-investment/611352/23 "2012-02-03T19:49:14Z")

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Does this company offer a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRiP)? I bought EXON directly from Exxon through their DRiP.

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**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-simplest-way-to-buy-stock-in-a-single-company-for-a-long-term-investment/611352/24 "2012-02-04T13:54:31Z")

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> [@UncleRojelio](#):
>
> Does this company offer a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRiP)? I bought EXON directly from Exxon through their DRiP.

Actually, you probably bought Exxon [now ExxonMobil] thru their **direct-purchase** plan, like I did about ten years ago.

ExxonMobil also has a \*\*dividend-reinvestment \*\*plan. If you choose to participate, your stock dividends are applied to purchasing additional shares.

A company can have a dividend-reinvestment plan without having a direct-purchase plan.

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