When investing in the stock market, you might hear about “stock splits” and “reverse stock splits.” Knowing what these mean can help you understand how they affect your investments. Let’s explain them in simple terms.
Stock Splits
A stock split happens when a company decides to divide its existing shares into multiple new shares. This increases the number of shares outstanding while reducing the price per share, but the total value of the shares remains the same.
For example, if you own 1 share of a company worth Rs.1000, and the company announces a 2-for-1 stock split, you will end up with 2 shares worth Rs.500 each. Your total investment value remains Rs.1000, but you now own more shares.
Why Do Companies Do Stock Splits?
- Make Shares More Affordable: When a company’s share price gets too high, it can become expensive for investors to buy. By splitting the stock, the price per share decreases, making it more affordable and attractive to a wider range of investors.
- Increase Liquidity: More shares available at a lower price can lead to increased trading activity, making it easier for investors to buy and sell shares.
Reverse Stock Splits
A reverse stock split is the opposite of a stock split. Here, a company reduces the number of its outstanding shares while increasing the price per share. The total value of the shares remains the same.
For instance, if you own 10 shares of a company worth Rs.100 each, and the company announces a 1-for-2 reverse stock split, you will end up with 5 shares worth Rs.200 each. Your total investment value still remains Rs.1000.
Why Do Companies Do Reverse Stock Splits?
- Raise Share Price: If a company’s share price falls too low, it may do a reverse split to increase the price. This can help meet stock exchange listing requirements, which often have minimum price criteria.
- Improve Perception: A higher share price can improve the perception of the company’s stock, making it appear more valuable and stable to investors.
Impact on Investors
- No Change in Investment Value: Both stock splits and reverse stock splits do not change the total value of your investment. You simply own more or fewer shares at a lower or higher price.
- Market Perception: A higher share price can make the company look better to investors, giving the impression of stability and value.
Understanding stock splits and reverse stock splits is essential for investors. While these actions do not affect the overall value of your investment, they can influence market perception and liquidity. At Signalz, we provide insights and advice to help you understand such changes in the market. Join us to stay informed and make smarter investment decisions.