Did Apple Split Its Stock? Full History & Effects

Yes — Apple has split its common stock five times. This article explains the five splits, their dates and ratios, how stock splits work, investor and index effects, tax/accounting treatment, how to...

2026-01-13 05:00:00

By Blockchain Lexicon

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Did Apple split its stock?

Yes — Apple has split its common stock multiple times since its IPO. If you've searched "did apple split its stock" to understand whether Apple has used stock splits to lower its trading price and broaden retail access, this article answers that question in detail. You'll get a concise history of each split, an explanation of how splits work, the investor, tax and index implications, and practical guidance on where to verify official notices. The article is beginner-friendly, grounded in authoritative sources, and aligned with Bitget's user-first approach.

Summary

If you asked "did apple split its stock" and expected a short answer: yes. Apple has executed five stock splits since its public listing. The corporate actions occurred in 1987, 2000, 2005, 2014 and 2020, with ratios of 2-for-1, 2-for-1, 2-for-1, 7-for-1 and 4-for-1 respectively. Each split increased the number of outstanding shares while lowering the per-share price proportionally, leaving the company's total market capitalization and each shareholder's proportional ownership unchanged.

A stock split makes individual shares cheaper in nominal terms and can improve liquidity and retail accessibility. Historical, split-adjusted return series are used to present apples-to-apples long-term performance; after all five splits, one original IPO share is equivalent to 224 shares today (2 × 2 × 2 × 7 × 4 = 224). For up-to-date confirmations and official notices, always refer to Apple Investor Relations and SEC filings.

As of January 21, 2026, according to Barchart reporting, market observers continue to monitor major tech companies for corporate actions tied to equity compensation and retail demand. For the latest official record on Apple splits, check Apple’s investor materials and the company's transfer agent announcements.

Chronology of Apple’s stock splits

Below is a concise timeline of Apple’s five stock splits, with a short note on context for each event.

16 June 1987 — 2-for-1

This was Apple’s first stock split after going public. The 2-for-1 split doubled the number of shares held by each shareholder and halved the nominal per-share price. It was a standard move for growing companies seeking to maintain a tradable share price as investor interest increased following early success.

21 June 2000 — 2-for-1

Occurring during the late-1990s/early-2000s technology boom, this 2-for-1 split reflected rising demand for technology stocks and Apple’s position in the market at the time.

28 February 2005 — 2-for-1

As Apple expanded its product lineup and revenue base, the company conducted another 2-for-1 split to keep the per-share price at a level accessible to a wider pool of investors.

9 June 2014 — 7-for-1

This was a larger ratio: 7 shares for every 1 share owned. The 7-for-1 split substantially lowered the per-share price after years of strong appreciation, making shares more accessible to individual investors and employees with option holdings.

28 August 2020 — 4-for-1

The most recent split: a 4-for-1 action implemented in late August 2020. Apple announced the split in company communications and scheduled the record and distribution dates consistent with standard corporate action processes. The 2020 split was widely covered in market media and intended to lower the per-share price amid strong performance and increasing retail investor participation.

Mechanics of a stock split

A stock split is a corporate action that increases the number of outstanding shares while decreasing the nominal price per share so that market capitalization remains unchanged (ignoring market movement). Here are the key mechanics explained step by step:

Ratio: Splits are announced as ratios such as 2-for-1, 4-for-1, or 7-for-1. In a 4-for-1 split, every 1 share becomes 4 shares.
Board approval and announcement: The company’s board typically approves a stock split or authorizes management to do so, followed by a public announcement describing the ratio and tentative dates.
Record date: The company sets a record date to determine which shareholders are entitled to receive the additional shares.
Distribution date (payable date): On the distribution date, the additional shares are allocated to shareholder accounts or transferred through the company’s transfer agent.
Shareholder entitlement: Each eligible shareholder receives additional shares in proportion to their holdings. Ownership percentage does not change.
Ticker/ledger adjustments: Brokers and the company’s transfer agent adjust holdings and the company’s share ledger. The market begins trading the stock at the split-adjusted price after the split becomes effective.
Fractional shares: If a shareholder’s position does not divide evenly by the split ratio, companies or brokers commonly pay a cash-in-lieu for fractional entitlements or aggregate fractions into whole shares and allocate or sell them according to the transfer agent’s policy.

These procedural steps are routine for large, liquid companies like Apple. For investors, the primary operational effect is an updated share balance shown in brokerage accounts and adjusted per-share pricing.

Financial and investor effects

A central confusion when people ask "did apple split its stock" is whether splits change the company's economic value. They do not — here’s why and what does change in practice:

Market capitalization: A stock split does not change the company’s market capitalization at the moment the split becomes effective. If the price halves and the share count doubles (in a 2-for-1 split), the multiplication of shares and price yields the same market cap.
Ownership: Individual ownership percentages remain the same. A shareholder who owned 0.01% of Apple before a split still owns 0.01% afterward, albeit with more shares at a lower per-share price.
Liquidity and accessibility: Splits lower the nominal per-share price, which can make the stock appear more accessible to smaller retail investors who prefer whole shares rather than fractional positions — though many brokerages already support fractional trading.
Short-term attention and demand: Announcements and executions of splits often generate retail media attention and can coincide with buying interest from investors who perceive the lower per-share price as more attainable. This can produce short-term price movement, though it is not a guaranteed effect.
Employee equity and options: Stock splits can make employee equity plans and option exercises more manageable by increasing the share count and reducing the strike price per share.
Empirical observations: Academic and market studies show mixed short-term performance following stock splits. Some studies document modest positive drift in the weeks or months after announced splits, attributed to increased visibility, investor psychology, or changes in investor composition. However, long-term company fundamentals are the dominant driver of returns, and splits alone do not ensure future outperformance.

When evaluating whether to buy, hold or sell based on a split, focus on fundamentals, valuation, and your investment objectives. This is especially important for high-profile companies such as Apple.

Market and index implications

Stock splits can have different effects on indexes depending on the index methodology:

Price-weighted indexes: In a price-weighted index, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the index assigns weight based on share price rather than market capitalization. A split that reduces a constituent’s per-share price will reduce its weight in a price-weighted index unless index administrators adjust the divisor. When Apple split in 2020, index committees account for the split via divisor adjustments so the index value remains consistent.
Market-cap-weighted indexes: In market-cap-weighted indexes like the S&P 500, a stock split does not directly change the company’s market capitalization and therefore does not change its index weight simply because of the split. The only effect on weight comes from subsequent price moves or share repurchases/issuance.
Rebalancing and operational effects: Index providers will typically adjust constituent weights or divisors to ensure the split has no mechanical effect on index levels. Trading desks and index funds must implement operational updates to holdings to reflect the split-adjusted share counts and prices.

In short: splits require administrative adjustments in indexes and fund portfolios, but they do not change a company’s market-cap weighting in a cap-weighted index.

Tax, accounting, and brokerage handling

Common questions include how a split affects taxes, cost basis, and brokerage reporting. Here are the essential points:

Tax treatment: In most jurisdictions, including the United States, a regular stock split is a non-taxable event at the time of the split. Shareholders do not realize gain or loss solely because of a split.
Cost basis adjustment: The total cost basis remains the same after a split; the cost basis per share is adjusted downward proportionally to reflect the increased number of shares. For example, if you held 1 share purchased for $224 and it became 224 shares after splits, the per-share cost basis would be $1.
Brokerage reporting: Brokers and transfer agents update account holdings and provide year-end statements that reflect split-adjusted quantities and cost basis. When fractional shares are paid in cash, brokers typically report the cash proceeds and any associated tax implications.
Accounting for the company: Companies record stock splits by adjusting the number of shares outstanding and the par value per share (if relevant) in their equity accounts. The total shareholders’ equity does not change due to a split alone.

Because tax rules can vary by jurisdiction and personal circumstance, consult your tax adviser or the relevant tax authority for specific treatment.

Historical return context and split-adjusted figures

When analyzing long-term performance, analysts use split-adjusted price series to ensure continuity. Raw historical per-share prices without split adjustments make long-term charts misleading because older prices were for fewer shares.

Why adjust: Split-adjusted series back-calculate historical prices to reflect the effect of later splits so that percentage returns are comparable across time.
Practical example: After all five of Apple’s splits, one original IPO share converts to 224 shares today (2 × 2 × 2 × 7 × 4 = 224). Using split-adjusted prices, a chart that shows Apple’s price from the 1980s to the present will present a continuous, comparable series.
Common practice: Financial data providers and research platforms typically present both raw and split-adjusted series; when you compute CAGR (compound annual growth rate) or total return, use split-adjusted price data and include dividends for total return calculations.

This adjustment is essential to avoid underestimating long-term performance for stocks with multiple splits.

Could Apple split again?

A common search that begins with "did apple split its stock" often leads to the follow-up question: will it happen again? There is no automatic schedule for splits. Any future split would require a company announcement and decision by Apple’s board of directors. As of the reporting date in this article, no new split was announced.

As of January 21, 2026, according to Barchart reporting and Apple’s public investor materials, Apple has not announced another split beyond the August 2020 4-for-1 action.
What would trigger a new split? Companies often consider splits when the per-share price increases substantially and the board believes a lower nominal price will help market functioning, employee equity programs, or retail accessibility.
How to watch: For updates, monitor Apple Investor Relations, SEC filings (including proxy statements if shareholder approvals are required), and official transfer-agent communications.

Remember: a split is a technical corporate action and does not by itself change the company’s underlying business fundamentals.

How to verify official information

To confirm any corporate action such as a stock split, use authoritative sources:

Apple Investor Relations: Official company announcements and press releases.
SEC filings: Forms such as 8-Ks, proxy statements, and annual reports (10-Ks) disclose corporate actions and board authorizations.
Transfer agent communications: The company's transfer agent publishes record and distribution dates and handles the mechanics of share reallocation.
Brokerage notices: Your brokerage will publish operational notes and update account holdings when a split takes effect.
Reputable market news outlets and data vendors: For context and historical summaries, consult established financial news providers and historical data services.

When confirming dates and procedures, prefer primary sources (Apple IR, SEC filings) over secondary summaries.

Frequently asked questions (short Q&A)

Q: How many times has Apple split its stock? A: Apple has split its stock five times.

Q: Did my ownership change after a split? A: No. Your proportional ownership of the company remains unchanged; you simply hold more shares at a lower per-share price.

Q: Does a split affect Apple’s market capitalization? A: No. A split changes the share count and per-share price proportionally, leaving market capitalization unchanged immediately after the split.

Q: How are dividends affected? A: Per-share dividend amounts are typically adjusted to reflect the split so that the total dividend entitlement for a shareholder is unchanged.

Q: Is a stock split taxable? A: Generally no — a normal stock split is a non-taxable event. Cost basis per share is adjusted.

Q: Where can I confirm an upcoming split? A: Check Apple Investor Relations and the company's SEC filings and transfer agent notices.

References and further reading

Sources used to compile and verify the factual timeline and explanations in this article include:

Apple Investor Relations announcements and corporate filings.
SEC filings (8-K, 10-K, proxy statements) for record of corporate actions.
Historical summaries from major financial information providers and market-data services that track split-adjusted price history.
Coverage and context from reputable financial news outlets and research platforms.
As of January 21, 2026, reporting and market updates from Barchart were referenced for contemporaneous market context and to confirm that no additional Apple split had been announced past August 2020.

All data referenced are verifiable in official filings and established market data providers.

Further exploration and next steps

If your interest in "did apple split its stock" is motivated by trading, tracking or managing corporate action outcomes in a portfolio, consider these practical steps:

Verify the official notice on Apple Investor Relations and in SEC filings before relying on any timing or mechanics.
Check your brokerage account and contact customer service or the transfer agent if you see discrepancies after an announced split.
If you use a Web3 wallet for other digital assets, consider the Bitget Wallet for secure custody solutions and to explore how modern wallets handle corporate action notices for tokenized equities in the future.
For trading and execution needs, explore Bitget’s features and market tools to manage positions and stay informed about corporate actions in liquid markets.

Thank you for reading. If you want step‑by‑step help checking Apple’s official split notices or tracking split‑adjusted historical prices, explore Bitget’s educational resources and platform tools to stay informed and manage holdings efficiently.

The content above has been sourced from the internet and generated using AI. For high-quality content, please visit Bitget Academy.