Found some stock certificates in my late grandfathers stuff bought from PC Financial Network in 1993.

1) CMP — this one is straightforward

The ticker CMP is still an active company:
➡️ Compass Minerals International, Inc.

• It’s a real, currently traded stock (salt + fertilizer company). 

• If your grandfather actually owned shares, they may still be valid today (possibly adjusted for splits, dividends, etc.)

What likely happened since 1993:

• Company may have:

• Changed name (it did in 2003)

• Done stock splits / restructures

• Your certificate might still represent ownership—but it may need to be converted (“reissued”) into modern electronic shares

👉 This one is worth investigating further for sure.

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2) GRE PRB — this is the tricky one

This is NOT a normal stock ticker anymore

“PRB” usually refers to:

➡️ Series B preferred shares, not a company itself 

Meaning:
• “GRE PRB” was likely:

• A preferred stock series issued by some company (maybe GRE = the issuer)

• These often:

• Pay fixed dividends

• Get redeemed (bought back) by the company eventually

⚠️ Important:

• Many PRB-type securities have been fully redeemed and no longer exist 

• If that happened, your grandfather would have been owed:

• Cash payout at redemption

• (But if unclaimed, it may now sit as unclaimed property)

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3) PC Financial Network (why this complicates things)

PC Financial Network was a brokerage that no longer exists.

So your shares are likely now:

• Held by a transfer agent, or

• Escheated (sent) to the state as unclaimed property

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What you should do next (this is the important part)

Step 1 — Look closely at the certificates

You need:
• Full company name (not just ticker)

• CUSIP number (very important)

• Issue date

👉 The CUSIP is the key to tracking what happened after mergers / name changes.

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Step 2 — Contact the transfer agent

Most old stocks are managed by companies like:
• ComputerShare

• Equiniti

Tell them:
• You have a physical certificate

• Provide CUSIP + company name

They can:

• Confirm if shares still exist

• Reissue them electronically

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Step 3 — Check unclaimed property (VERY important)

If dividends or redemption money were never claimed:

Search here:

• National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (missingmoney.com)

Also check your grandfather’s state specifically.

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Step 4 — Use a brokerage to help (optional but powerful)

A broker like:

• Fidelity Investments

• Charles Schwab

can:
• Help you deposit physical certificates

• Do the research / conversion

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Bottom line

• CMP: Likely still valid → worth real money if shares exist

• GRE PRB: Likely a redeemed preferred stock → value may exist as unclaimed cash instead

TLDR: use ChatGPT first.