Apple 4-for-1 stock split process completes
Apple's stock split has completed, with shareholders on Friday now owning four times the number of shares in the iPhone maker they did yesterday, as the company attempts to make the stock "more accessible" to smaller investors.
Originally announced on July 30 and approved by Apple's Board of Directors, the four-for-one stock split will increase the number of common shares available in the company from approximately 12.6 billion to 50.4 billion, for shares outstanding and the number of authorized shares combined. The process effectively quadruples the amount of Apple stock each stockholder has in the company, but without increasing its value.
Apple started recording which shareholders had stock in the company from August 24, with those deemed to still be holding shares before August 31 gaining three extra shares in the company. The split itself started at the close of business on August 28, while the Ex Date of August 31 marks the first session determined by Nasdaq that Apple's common shares will be tradeable at a new split-adjusted price.
Following the split, each of Apple's shares were adjusted in value down to a quarter of the pre-split price. For shareholders, this effectively meant there was no official change in total value for their Apple stock once the split took place, though this doesn't take into the reality that the price will change due to the major trading event.
Shareholders who sold their Apple stock before the Ex Date will have still received the pre-split price for the shares, but would have passed on their entitlement to three extra split shares at the same time. People buying shares before the Ex Date would pay the pre-split price, and would be entitled to the extra shares.
Shareholders will find their additional shares deposited into their brokerage account automatically, though this won't apply to all shareholders.
If the shareholder has a share certificate or holds shares with Computershare Trust Company, Apple's transfer agent, the post-split shares will be deposited in a book-entry position, with Computershare mailing a statement reflecting the number of shares owned. Apple warns it won't be issuing new share certificates in this case, and there is no need for shareholders to return their versions, as they will be credited in a book-entry position.
The stock split is the fifth in Apple's history since going public, and follows a 2-for-1 split on May 15, 1987, June 21, 2000, and February 18, 2005. On June 6, 2014, Apple performed a 7-for-1 stock split.
In pre-market trading, AAPL is worth $126.55, up from $124.81, in before-hours trading. Some stock tickers are not keeping up with the split well, with them reporting that the stock is down over 75%, when it is actually split-adjusted up on the day.
Erroneous stock ticker, showing a day-to-day decline of 75%, with before-hours trading showing an increase.
Originally announced on July 30 and approved by Apple's Board of Directors, the four-for-one stock split will increase the number of common shares available in the company from approximately 12.6 billion to 50.4 billion, for shares outstanding and the number of authorized shares combined. The process effectively quadruples the amount of Apple stock each stockholder has in the company, but without increasing its value.
Apple started recording which shareholders had stock in the company from August 24, with those deemed to still be holding shares before August 31 gaining three extra shares in the company. The split itself started at the close of business on August 28, while the Ex Date of August 31 marks the first session determined by Nasdaq that Apple's common shares will be tradeable at a new split-adjusted price.
Following the split, each of Apple's shares were adjusted in value down to a quarter of the pre-split price. For shareholders, this effectively meant there was no official change in total value for their Apple stock once the split took place, though this doesn't take into the reality that the price will change due to the major trading event.
Shareholders who sold their Apple stock before the Ex Date will have still received the pre-split price for the shares, but would have passed on their entitlement to three extra split shares at the same time. People buying shares before the Ex Date would pay the pre-split price, and would be entitled to the extra shares.
Shareholders will find their additional shares deposited into their brokerage account automatically, though this won't apply to all shareholders.
If the shareholder has a share certificate or holds shares with Computershare Trust Company, Apple's transfer agent, the post-split shares will be deposited in a book-entry position, with Computershare mailing a statement reflecting the number of shares owned. Apple warns it won't be issuing new share certificates in this case, and there is no need for shareholders to return their versions, as they will be credited in a book-entry position.
The stock split is the fifth in Apple's history since going public, and follows a 2-for-1 split on May 15, 1987, June 21, 2000, and February 18, 2005. On June 6, 2014, Apple performed a 7-for-1 stock split.
In pre-market trading, AAPL is worth $126.55, up from $124.81, in before-hours trading. Some stock tickers are not keeping up with the split well, with them reporting that the stock is down over 75%, when it is actually split-adjusted up on the day.
Erroneous stock ticker, showing a day-to-day decline of 75%, with before-hours trading showing an increase.
Comments
Conversion Factors:
+12.52 from Friday's price
+87.64 from 2014's price
+175.28 from 2005's price
+350.58 from 2000's price
and...
+701.12 from 1987's price
(I don't have the exact dates, but there it is...)
I stopped buying before the 7-1 split when the shares were roughly $300 a share. I have not sold my shares but have not added to them in a long time. I am a value investor and rarely sell anything I buy. I did sell my Tesla stock off at a profit, but in retrospect probably should have held on to it. A also bought and still have Amazon stock.
I only bought stocks for a relatively small number of years, but chose well and the value of these stocks far outstrips my Roth IRA and Pension plans from previous employers.
I pulled my money from my previous employer and bought AAPL and some other stocks. AAPL has been buy and hold, and use DRIP for the dividends, so i'm up in value, and the cascading dividend shares I get, which has added another 11% of shares held in my Roth and standard IRA's that I made with the rollover from the 401(k).
Let's use small numbers to explain this better with an example.
Suppose there are 100 shares of AAPL total, and you own one. Clearly you own 1% of Apple's shares.
Now, Apple does a stock buy back and removes 5 shares from circulation (buy buying 5 shares from other owners). Now you own 1/95 of Apple instead of 1/100.
Then Apple does a 4-1 split, you would have 4 shares out of 380--still equal 1/95th of all the shares.
Does that make sense? Stock splits have no real impact on existing owners while a buy back does.
Mine is ~$7.75. But I call it my "stranded asset:" The capital gains taxes I'd have to pay if I sold any would sting seriously.