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Difference between stocks and CEDEARs: A useful and exclusive article

Learning
08 April 2025
5 min to read
Difference between stocks and CEDEARs: Smart strategies for Argentine investors

The financial market offers multiple options to increase capital. Understanding the difference between stocks and CEDEARs is essential to diversify portfolios and take advantage of global opportunities without leaving the local market. This article details the characteristics of each tool to optimize your investment decisions.

The current investment landscape: Stocks vs. CEDEARs

Understanding the difference between stocks and CEDEARs is an essential skill for diversifying portfolios and accessing international markets. Argentine Deposit Certificates (CEDEARs) have gained popularity among investors seeking to protect their savings from local volatility and access global companies.

Pocket Option offers specific tools to analyze the difference between these instruments, facilitating informed decisions. It’s not about choosing one or the other, but understanding how each instrument complements a comprehensive strategy.

What exactly are stocks and CEDEARs?

The difference between stocks and CEDEARs begins with their fundamental definitions. Stocks represent direct participation in a company, granting shareholder status with economic and political rights. When acquiring local stocks, you become a partial owner of that company.

CEDEARs represent foreign stocks that don’t trade directly in the local market. They function as certificates backed by shares deposited in an external custodian entity, allowing access to international markets without operating directly in foreign exchanges.

Characteristic Stocks CEDEARs
Nature Direct participation in local company Certificate backed by foreign stocks
Political rights Complete (voting in assemblies) Limited or indirect
Dividends Direct Indirect (subject to ratios and withholdings)

The legal structure behind each instrument

The difference between stocks and CEDEARs from a legal standpoint determines their implications. Stocks are directly regulated by local regulations, while CEDEARs involve a structure with local and international depository banks, adding additional layers of intermediation.

Pocket Option manages these legal aspects automatically, allowing you to focus on investment strategies rather than regulatory complexities. CEDEARs are subject to both local regulations and regulations from the country where the stock originally trades.

Comparative advantages and disadvantages

The advantages and disadvantages reveal the true difference between stocks and CEDEARs for each investor profile. Each instrument offers unique characteristics according to objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Aspect Advantages of Stocks Advantages of CEDEARs
Diversification Knowledge of the local market Access to global companies
Currency hedging No direct exposure to exchange rate Natural hedge against devaluation
Liquidity Greater for high capitalization stocks Variable according to CEDEAR popularity

A controversial observation is that CEDEARs may offer better protection against local crises, but limit the ability to influence corporate management. Some financial advisors at Pocket Option point out that this limitation reduces value for institutional investors seeking to influence corporate decisions.

The currency factor: a crucial consideration

What is the difference between stocks and CEDEARs regarding currency impact? A crucial factor often underestimated. CEDEARs have a particularity: their price in local currency reflects both the performance of the underlying stock and the evolution of the exchange rate.

If an Apple stock maintains its value in USD but the peso depreciates by 10%, the corresponding CEDEAR will increase approximately 10% in pesos. This feature makes CEDEARs instruments with a currency hedging component, something that Pocket Option highlights as essential for volatile markets.

Investment strategies: Combining stocks and CEDEARs

Successful investors strategically combine stocks and CEDEARs, not considering them mutually exclusive options. The right combination creates resilient portfolios against different economic scenarios.

  • Conservative investors: 70% in CEDEARs of stable companies and 30% in low-volatility local stocks
  • Moderate investors: 50%-50% distribution with sectoral rotation according to economic cycle
  • Aggressive investors: Quick tactical changes between instruments based on specific opportunities

Pocket Option analysts provide monthly alerts about macroeconomic changes affecting the difference between CEDEARs and stocks in terms of risk-adjusted performance.

Fiscal and operational considerations

The difference between CEDEARs and stocks includes important fiscal variations that impact the final return. These factors can significantly alter the net profitability of seemingly similar investments.

Fiscal/operational aspect Stocks CEDEARs
Dividend treatment Subject to local withholding Potential double withholding (local and foreign)
Custody costs Generally lower Include depository commissions

Pocket Option offers updated comparative fiscal analyses between both instruments, saving you research time. Taxation varies according to tax reforms, so always consult with a specialized advisor.

The liquidity factor and conversion ratios

What is the difference between stocks and CEDEARs in terms of liquidity? A decisive factor for efficient operations. Liquidity determines the ease of buying or selling without significantly affecting the price.

Conversion ratios also impact the difference between CEDEARs and stocks. For example, if the ratio is 10:1, you would need 10 Apple CEDEARs to equal one complete Apple share on the NYSE. This factor directly affects the unit price and should be considered when comparing valuations.

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Conclusions: Integrating stocks and CEDEARs

The difference between stocks and CEDEARs does not imply a mutually exclusive choice but rather strategic complementarity for resilient portfolios. Both instruments offer specific advantages that, when properly combined, enhance results.

Pocket Option provides specific simulators to optimize the stocks/CEDEARs ratio according to your personalized risk profile. Continuous financial education and attentive market monitoring remain fundamental for any strategy, regardless of the selected instruments.

In an interconnected financial environment, mastering the particularities of these investment vehicles makes the difference between mediocre results and fulfilled financial objectives. The intelligent combination, aligned with your personal strategy, opens opportunities that transcend borders.

FAQ

Can I receive dividends from both stocks and CEDEARs?

Yes, both instruments distribute dividends. In the case of CEDEARs, dividends are paid after applying withholdings from the country of origin and local withholdings.

What is the main advantage of CEDEARs compared to local stocks?

The main advantage is access to international companies and geographic diversification. They also offer a natural hedge against local currency devaluation.

Can voting rights be exercised with CEDEARs?

Political rights in CEDEARs are limited or indirect. Unlike direct stocks, they generally do not allow participation in shareholder meetings.

How does the exchange rate affect the price of CEDEARs?

The price of CEDEARs is affected by both the price of the underlying stock and the evolution of the exchange rate. A devaluation of the local currency usually increases their value in local terms.

Is it advisable to have only CEDEARs in my investment portfolio?

It is not ideal to concentrate exclusively on a single instrument. The recommendation is to diversify between local stocks and CEDEARs according to your risk profile and investment objectives.