When you buy 100 shares of stock in ford, it has a specific value that can go up and down. When you the testator bought 100 shares you paid 100k. When you die that stock will be worth some other value. The value is immaterial if you give the stock. But ford also pays cash dividends – payable out of profit of organization. They’re like interest so that any cash dividend paid during the life of the testator goes to the general estate. Does not go with the stock even if it’s paid after the death of the testator. But any cash dividend declared and paid goes to the devisee.
Stock dividends only gives you more shares to show your value. Ford might have decided to issue a stock divided 1:1. Every share you have gets another. Stock dividends do not increase in value. Stock splits. Corporate devise which increase the number of shares but do not decrease the value or could be reverse split. The general rule is dividends and splits do not change any value. Therefore any such devise before the death of the testator so that it will go to the devisee of the original amount of shares. Merger also does not change the value of your bequest. Merely a change in the book keeping does not change your bequest. Problem: whether or not devise of stock is specific or general. If specific, it takes with it the aforementioned wills. If general, a general devise of stock is considered stock. If general and there’s no stock in the case you get value. If specific, you get nothing.