17 Stock Perks That Will Blow Your Mind
Written by
Joshua Mrozinski
Edited by
Melanie Grafil
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The main reason investors buy stocks is to make money. Returns on stocks generally come in two forms: dividends and capital gains. Whether you actually come out on top is dependent on a lot of factors, but for long-term wealth, investing is widely considered the way to go.
For a small group of stocks, though, there are additional hidden benefits offered to shareholders. Although these stock perks won’t make the difference between a good and bad investment, they still might be worth pursuing if you own stock in these companies or are considering it.
17 Companies With Amazing Stock Perks
Take a look at these stocks with perks so you can better decide how to invest your money.
1. Carnival Corporation — Onboard Credits
Carnival Corporation & PLC, which offers cruises under brands that include Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, sells shares with perks. People who own at least 100 shares are eligible for onboard credits.
The Miami company provides an onboard credit of $50 per stateroom for sailings of six days or less, $100 per stateroom for seven- to 13-day sailings and $250 per stateroom for sailings of at least 14 days. Carnival recommends that customers make an application for the perks at least three weeks before your departure date. These benefits apply to sailings through Dec. 31, 2024.
2. Norwegian Cruise Line — Onboard Credits
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., with 19 ships, also offers shares with perks for its loyal but frugal ship enthusiasts. The Miami company provides people who own at least 100 shares with an onboard credit of $50 per stateroom for trips of six days or less, $100 per stateroom for trips of seven to 14 days and $250 per stateroom for trips of at least 15 days.
Norwegian reserves the shareholder benefits for vacations on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
To register for the perks, you’ll need to complete a form on Norwegian’s investor relations website and make your request at least 15 days prior to sailing.
3. Royal Caribbean — Onboard Credits
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., a Miami company with 68 ships under several brands, also has shareholder perks fit for cruise ship insiders. The company provides onboard credit like those provided by Carnival and Norwegian. Its onboard credit consists of $50 per stateroom for trips of five nights or less, $100 per stateroom for six- to 13-night sailings and $250 per stateroom for sailings of at least 14 nights.
Royal Caribbean requires that shareholders make their request for onboard credit two to three weeks before the sail date. The onboard credit can be applied to a Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises or Silversea Cruises sailing. Charter and Galapagos sailings are ineligible.
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4. InterContinental Hotels Group — Booking Discounts
Outside of cruise companies, investors can receive perks from owning shares of InterContinental Hotels Group, a Denham, U.K.-based hotel operator and investor with more than 946,382 rooms in over 6,300 hotels in over 100 countries. InterContinental allows the discounts to be applied to room bookings but not to packages or other travel components.
5. Willamette Valley Vineyards — Discounts and Private Events
If you like perks for wine, you might be interested in buying shares of Willamette Valley Vineyards, a Turner, Oregon-based company. Perks include discounted wine purchases, VIP tours, complimentary tastings, access to special events at the winery and volunteer opportunities.
6. Irish Continental Group — Travel Discounts
If you’re traveling through Ireland and Great Britain, you could save money if you are an Irish Continental Group shareholder. The perks provided by the Dublin-based transportation and leisure company include discounts of 5%, 10% and 20% on passenger and ferry car service. To qualify for the discounts, you must own at least 1,000 shares.
7. Accor — Shareholders Club
Accor SA, a hotel and management company with more than 5,000 hotels in 110 countries, offers its shareholders an opportunity to join the Accor Shareholders Club. Members of the club are entitled to a loyalty card, among other benefits, such as hotel tours.
Those who own at least 50 bearer shares or one registered share are eligible for the shareholder benefit.
8. Berkshire Hathaway — Annual Shareholders Meeting
Owners of shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. have benefited from the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate’s explosive growth. The company’s Class A shares closed at $647,523 on Aug. 9, 2024, up from $430 in 1980.
Berkshire Hathaway investors receive special access to the company’s annual shareholders meeting, held in Omaha. The weekend-long conference includes a shareholder shopping day featuring extensive discounts and the opportunity to attend Warren Buffett’s signature address, where he expounds on the company’s performance.
9. Bloomsbury Publishing — Book Discounts
Enthusiastic readers who are also frugal should consider buying shares of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, a London-based company. The company is currently delisted from Nasdaq, but if your brokerage provides access to foreign stock, you can buy shares on the London Stock Exchange, where it trades under the ticker BMY. Investors get to experience benefits even if they own only one share: a 35% discount on books published by Bloomsbury.
Bloomsbury, founded in 1986, has subsidiaries in London, New York, Sydney and New Delhi. The “Harry Potter” series is among the most memorable books published by Bloomsbury.
10. ANA — Airfare Discount
When you have an address in Japan and plan to travel in Japan, you could be eligible for travel discounts through ANA Holdings Inc., a Tokyo passenger and cargo travel company. ANA provides a discount of approximately 50% off on qualifying airfare to shareholders who own at least 100 of its shares at the end of March or September.
11. AMC — Investor Connect
AMC extends perks enjoyed by AMC Stubs loyalty club members through Investor Connect, a program offering shareholder-exclusive promotions and discounts, as well as invites to special screenings. Registering is easy — the benefit is available to all self-identified shareholders.
12. 3M — Holiday Gift Box
Shareholders of 3M have benefited from the company’s growth and decades of providing one of the best dividend stocks. They have also benefited from additional perks.
The St. Paul, Minnesota, company offers a holiday gift box each year during the holiday season. The holiday box, sold at a discount to retail value, contains well over a dozen 3M products and costs less than $30.
13. Aterian — Exclusive Offers and Discounts
Aterian has over a dozen brands in a portfolio of products that run the gamut from health and wellness to home appliances. Investors who own at least 100 shares qualify for exclusive benefits, discounts and early access to new products each week.
14. Online Vacation Center — Booking Discounts
Online Vacation Center Holdings Corp., a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, provider of vacation services, offers 5% cash back on cruises to people who own at least 500 shares. The company is one of the country’s largest cruise retailers. Its partners include Viking Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.
15. Lindt — Free Chocolate
The Kilchberg, Switzerland, chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli AG has some sweet shareholder perks. It provides a gift box to shareholders who vote during its annual meeting.
Unfortunately, the company holds its annual meeting in Switzerland and does not mail the gift boxes. And if you’re not already a shareholder, you’ll pay over $108,000 for a share. As an alternative, you can find Lindt chocolate at a nearby store and treat yourself.
16. Crimson Wine Group — Discount on Select Wines
Crimson Wine Group Ltd. of Napa, California, offers shareholders a 20% discount on select wines. Its shareholder perks also include two complimentary wine tastings at any of its tasting rooms and white-glove assistance on gifting options.
The company operates seven wineries in California, Oregon and Washington.
17. LVMH — Access to Special Wine Selection
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the Paris-based maker of luxury goods, including clothing, jewelry, and wine and spirits, has shares with perks. It operates what it calls the LVMH Shareholders’ Club, which offers its members perks that include access to a special selection of wine, as well as a magazine.
You will need to hold at least one share of LVMH on the Paris stock exchange. Join the club by submitting an application online or through the mail.
Daria Uhlig, Cynthia Measom and Michael McDonald contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of Aug. 9, 2024.
