Samantha Receives 100 Shares of Burnet Corporation Stock as a Gift

Essay

Samantha receives 100 shares of Burnet Corporation stock as a gift from her cousin. At the date of the gift the stock is valued at $60 per share. It cost her cousin $10 per share several years before. One month later, Samantha's uncle dies and she inherits 100 shares of Crockett Corporation stock from her uncle's estate. The stock cost her uncle $10 per share twenty-five years ago. On the date of death the stock has a value of $60 per share. Samantha needs money to invest in her business, but she does not need to sell both blocks of stock this year. Which stock would you recommend Samantha to sell? (Assume any long-term capital gains would be taxed at 15%.)