Disposition: Definition, How It Works in Investing, and Example (2024)

What Is a Disposition?

A disposition is the act of selling or otherwise "disposing" of an asset or security. The most common form of a disposition would be selling a stock investment on the open market, such as a stock exchange.

Other types of dispositions include donations to charities or trusts, the sale of real estate, either land or a building, or any other financial asset. Still, other forms of dispositions involve transfers and assignments. The bottom line is that the investor has given up possession of an asset.

Key Takeaways

  • A disposition refers generally to the selling securities or assets on the open market.
  • Dispositions can also take the form of transfers or donations to charities, endowments, or trusts.
  • For business dispositions, the SEC requires certain reporting to be completed depending on the nature of the disposition.
  • Dispositions that are donations, assignments, or transfers, can often be used to take advantage of beneficial tax treatment.

Understanding a Disposition

A "disposition of shares" is perhaps the most commonly used phrase regarding a disposition. Let’s say an investor has been a long-time shareholder of a particular company, but lately, the company may not be doing so well.

If they decide to exit the investment, it would amount to a disposition of that investment—a disposition of shares. Most likely, they would sell their shares through a broker on a stock exchange. Ultimately, they have decided to get rid of, or dispose of, that investment.

If the sale results in any sort of capital gain, then the investor will have to pay capital gains tax on the profits of the sale if they meet the requirements set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Other types of dispositions include transfers and assignments, where someone legally assigns or transfers particular assets to their family, a charity, or another type of organization. Mostly this is done for tax and accounting purposes, where the transfer or assignment relieves the disposer of tax or other liabilities.

For example, if an investor purchased stock for $5,000 and the investment grew to $15,000, the investor can avoid the capital gains tax on their profit by donating it to a charity. The investor is then able to include the entire $15,000 as a tax deduction.

Business Disposition

Businesses also dispose of assets, and very often, of entire business segments or units. This is commonly known as divestiture and can be done through a spinoff, split-up, or split-off.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has very specific guidelines on how these dispositions must be reported and handled. If the disposition is not reported in the financial statements of a company, then pro forma financial statements are required if the disposition meets the requirements of a significance test.

"Significance" is determined by either an income test or an investment test. An investment test measures the investment value in the unit being disposed of compared to total assets. If the amount is more than 10% as of the most recent fiscal year-end, then it is considered significant.

The income test measures if the "equity in the income from continuing operations before taxes, extraordinary items, and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles" is 10% or more of such income of the most recent fiscal year-end. In certain situations, the threshold level can be increased to 20%.

The Disposition Effect

Behavioral economics also has something to say about one's propensity to sell a winning vs. losing position based on the concept of loss aversion. The "disposition effect" is a term that describes investor behavior in which they have a tendency to sell winning investments too early before realizing all potential gains while holding on to losing investments for longer than they should, hoping that the investments will turn around and generate a profit.

This effect was first introduced by Hersh Shefrin and Meir Statman in 1985 in their paper, "The Disposition to Sell Winners Too Early and Ride Losers Too Long: Theory and Evidence." Studies show that investors should do the exact opposite of what the disposition effect states they tend to do.

Disposition: Definition, How It Works in Investing, and Example (2024)

FAQs

Disposition: Definition, How It Works in Investing, and Example? ›

The disposition effect

disposition effect
The disposition effect is an anomaly discovered in behavioral finance. It relates to the tendency of investors to sell assets that have increased in value, while keeping assets that have dropped in value.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Disposition_effect
refers to our tendency to prematurely sell assets that have made financial gains, while holding on to assets that are losing money. We are driven to sell our winning investments in order to ensure a profit, but are averse to selling losing investments in hopes of turning them into gains.

What is a disposition in investing? ›

A disposition is the act of selling or otherwise "disposing" of an asset or security. The most common form of a disposition would be selling a stock investment on the open market, such as a stock exchange.

What is an example of a disposition? ›

a dog with an excellent disposition Her disposition was to always think negatively. He has a disposition toward criminal behavior. people with a genetic disposition toward a particular disease A will is a legal document that is used in the disposition of property.

What is an example of disposition in real life? ›

An animal with an excellent disposition is friendly towards people. If you are cheerful, you're often said to have a sunny disposition. Disposition can also mean "getting rid of something," so cleaning your room might involve the disposition of empty pizza boxes and soda cans.

What is the disposition effect of investors? ›

The disposition effect is an anomaly discovered in behavioral finance. It relates to the tendency of investors to sell assets that have increased in value, while keeping assets that have dropped in value.

How does disposition work? ›

Common dispositions are: Convicted: means you have plead or been found guilty by a court of law. Acquitted: means you have been found not guilty by a court of law in a criminal trial. Dismissed: means the court or prosecutor has decided the charge against you should not go forward, terminating the case.

What is the rule of disposition? ›

A disposition is the final resolution or outcome of a criminal case. A defendant in a criminal case may be acquitted (found not guilty), convicted (found guilty), or have their conviction (or judgment) vacated.

What does disposition mean in business? ›

Disposition refers to the disposal of assets through a sale, assignment, or transfer where the ownership of the asset is transferred. The sale of shares in the exchange market, insider trades reported in a company's records, the sale of loan collateral by banks, and donations are other forms of disposition.

What does disposition mean for dummies? ›

noun. the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude: I'd like to thank the general manager for his hospitality, kindness, and always cheerful disposition. Synonyms: humor, temperament, makeup, nature.

How do you describe disposition? ›

disposition is the natural or prevailing aspect of one's mind as shown in behavior and in relationships with others: a happy disposition; a selfish disposition.

What is the most common form of disposition? ›

Cremation is one of the most common body disposition options in the U.S. and generally entails incinerating your body in a cremator (a type of furnace) and turning it into ashes. There are non-incinerating cremation options like hydro-cremation, but they are not yet legal in every state.

What is the most common disposition? ›

"Disposition" is defined by the FBI as "an action regarded by the criminal justice system to be the final result of a committed offense." While the most common disposition are court findings (e.g., guilty plea and placed on probation, acquitted, etc.), a disposition can also indicate that law enforcement elected not to ...

What are the two types of disposition? ›

The two types of disposition for federal records are retention and disposal, where retention involves keeping records for a set period, and disposal involves destruction or archiving of records no longer needed for current business.

What is disposition in trading? ›

Disposition refers to the act of selling an asset or security or otherwise disposing. Mostly, disposition would mean to sell out an open market stock investment, such as a stock exchange. Certain forms of schemes could include donations to charities or trusts.

What is the difference between stock acquisition and disposition? ›

In business, Acquisition is obtaining or buying new assets (such as stocks or property), Disposition is selling some or all previously acquired assets (such selling stock or property).

What is a disposition strategy? ›

In commercial real estate, the disposition process is the act of selling, subleasing, or negotiating a lease buyout of commercial real estate property. CRE portfolio owners typically turn to disposition to redistribute funds into the company or pay off debt.

What does disposition mean in trade? ›

A disposition refers to the disposal of assets or securities through assignment, sale, or another transfer method. It is simply the transfer of an asset's ownership, where the asset is either given away or sold.

What is the difference between disposition and sell? ›

'Disposal' typically refers to getting rid of an asset or item, but it may not necessarily involve a sale, transfer, or exchange for a consideration. "Sale" is a common form of disposal, there are certain features that distinguish it from other forms of disposal.

What is a disposition in business terms? ›

Disposition refers to the act of selling an asset or security or otherwise disposing. Mostly, disposition would mean to sell out an open market stock investment, such as a stock exchange.

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