when did apple split their stock? Full timeline
Apple Inc. stock splits
This article answers the common query when did apple split their stock and provides a complete, chronological account of Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) stock splits, the reasons companies split shares, administrative mechanics, cumulative effects on share counts and historical prices, and where to verify official records. Readers will leave knowing the exact split dates and ratios, how to adjust historical prices, what shareholders experienced around each split, and practical steps to confirm split information through authoritative sources.
Quick answer: when did apple split their stock? Apple has executed five stock splits since its IPO — 16 June 1987 (2-for-1), 21 June 2000 (2-for-1), 28 February 2005 (2-for-1), 9 June 2014 (7-for-1), and 31 August 2020 (4-for-1). Stock splits increase share counts and proportionally lower per-share prices without changing a company’s market capitalization.
Background and definitions
A stock split is a corporate action in which a company increases the number of its outstanding shares while proportionally decreasing the nominal price per share so that the company’s market capitalization remains unchanged immediately after the split. Common split ratios include 2-for-1, 3-for-1, 7-for-1, and fractional splits such as 4-for-1.
Key terms explained for beginners:
- Stock split: Issuing additional shares to existing shareholders in a fixed ratio (e.g., 2-for-1). If you held 100 shares before a 2-for-1 split, you hold 200 after; each share is worth roughly half of the pre-split price.
- Reverse split: The opposite action, reducing the number of shares and increasing the per-share price (e.g., 1-for-10).
- Record date / distribution date: Administrative dates that determine who receives additional shares and when they are posted to brokerage accounts.
- Fractional shares: When the split would produce fractional holdings, brokers either issue fractional shares or cash‑settle the fraction; treatment depends on the broker’s policies.
Stock splits do not change ownership percentage for shareholders (except for how fractional shares are handled) and are typically not treated as taxable events in many jurisdictions, though shareholders must adjust cost basis per share. Consult a tax professional for jurisdiction‑specific guidance.
Chronological history of Apple’s stock splits
Below is a chronological, sourced timeline answering when did apple split their stock in detail.
16 June 1987 — 2-for-1
Apple’s first stock split since going public was a 2-for-1 split executed on 16 June 1987. Mechanically, each share outstanding doubled and the per-share price halved immediately after the split. This split occurred during Apple’s early years as a public company and was part of a common practice among fast-growing technology firms of the era to keep per-share prices accessible to a broad investor base.
21 June 2000 — 2-for-1
On 21 June 2000 Apple completed another 2-for-1 split. This action came in the late dot-com boom period, weeks or months before the broader technology sector experienced a pronounced downturn. The split increased the number of outstanding shares and reduced the per‑share price, making Apple stock more approachable for smaller investors during a time of intense retail interest in tech equities.
28 February 2005 — 2-for-1
Apple’s 28 February 2005 2-for-1 split took place as the company was entering a sustained multi-year growth phase driven by new product introductions and services expansion. As with prior splits, the immediate mechanical effect was to double share count and halve the market price per share, without changing the firm’s market capitalization.
9 June 2014 — 7-for-1
The 9 June 2014 split was the first non-2-for-1 split for Apple and was a larger, 7-for-1 split. Apple publicly stated that the move was intended to make the company’s stock more accessible to a larger number of investors by lowering the per-share trading price. Practically, holders received six additional shares for each share held at the record date; historical prices and share counts were adjusted accordingly by exchanges and data providers.
31 August 2020 — 4-for-1
Apple announced a 4-for-1 split on 30 July 2020. The distribution and record dates followed Apple’s disclosure: shares were distributed at the close of business on 24 August 2020 and trading on a split‑adjusted basis began on 31 August 2020, per contemporaneous reporting from major financial outlets. Apple noted the goal of broadening access to the company’s stock for a wider base of investors; in practice the split multiplied outstanding share counts by four and divided the pre-split per-share price by four.
Aggregate effects and cumulative multiples
To compute Apple’s cumulative split multiplier across all five splits, multiply the ratios: 2 × 2 × 2 × 7 × 4 = 224. That means:
- One share held prior to the 16 June 1987 split would have become 224 shares after the August 2020 split, assuming no other corporate actions (sales, splits beyond 2020, etc.).
- Historical price series provided by exchanges and data vendors are typically "split‑adjusted" so that pre‑split prices reflect these multipliers and enable apples‑to‑apples comparisons over time.
Example (illustrative): If an investor held 1 pre-1987 share that had been priced at $100 in some prior data set, after applying the cumulative 1:224 adjustment the effective share count and adjusted historical price calculations must be transformed so that modern quoted prices align with the adjusted series. Data vendors like Macrotrends, Stocksplithistory, and major exchange data services publish split tables to automate these calculations.
Corporate rationale for Apple’s splits
Companies commonly provide several reasons for stock splits. Apple’s public rationale across its splits has included:
- Improving affordability and accessibility for retail investors by reducing the per‑share trading price.
- Increasing the potential investor base and improving liquidity.
- Facilitating certain forms of trading and investor engagement (for example, option contract standardization and participation by retail brokerage accounts).
Apple’s public statements around the 2014 and 2020 splits explicitly referenced making shares accessible to a broader range of investors. While a lower nominal price does not change fundamental ownership value, it can influence investor perception, retail participation, and short‑term trading behavior.
Market and index implications
Stock splits affect market participants and indexes differently depending on how an index is constructed. For example:
- Price‑weighted indexes (notably the Dow Jones Industrial Average) require adjustments to the index divisor when a split occurs so that the split does not change the index level solely because of a corporate action.
- Market‑cap weighted indexes are unaffected in total market value but will reflect the price change per share.
Empirical observations around split events often show increased trading volume and retail attention in the short term. However, split-related price moves are typically transitory and do not reliably predict long-term outperformance—academic and media analyses have shown mixed outcomes following split announcements. Apple’s own post-split performance varied across events, with broader market and company fundamentals driving long-term returns more than the split mechanics themselves.
Mechanics and administrative details
Key administrative concepts every shareholder should know:
- Announcement date: The company publicly announces the split and the proposed ratio.
- Record date: The cutoff date used to determine which shareholders are entitled to receive the split shares.
- Distribution / payable date: The date when additional shares are posted to shareholders’ accounts or when cash in lieu of fractional shares is paid.
- Trading on split‑adjusted basis: Exchanges and market data vendors list the new, split‑adjusted share price on a given trading day so that trading reflects the new share count.
Example (2020 split administrative timeline): Apple announced a 4-for-1 split on 30 July 2020. Shares were distributed to shareholders who owned shares by the close on 24 August 2020, and trading began on a split‑adjusted basis on 31 August 2020, following the schedule reported by major financial news organizations at the time. Different brokers may show the additional shares in customer accounts at slightly different times (often by the distribution date), and fractional shares (if any) are handled according to each broker’s policy.
Options and derivatives:
- Options contracts are adjusted by the options exchange to reflect the split ratio and to preserve contract equity exposure. Share splits can change the multiplier or the contract’s exercise price.
- Dividend records and ex-dividend dates are adjusted when splits occur; consult company filings and broker notifications for specific dividend treatment.
Fractional shares:
- When fractional holdings result from splits and a broker does not support fractional shares, the broker commonly pays cash in lieu for the fractional portion. If the broker supports fractions, they will typically reflect the fractional balance in the customer account. Policies vary across custodians and brokers.
Tax, accounting, and shareholder considerations
Ordinary forward stock splits (such as Apple’s historical splits) are generally non‑taxable events in many jurisdictions because they do not change the proportionate ownership of the company. However, shareholders must:
- Adjust the cost basis per share: The total cost basis remains the same, but basis per share is divided by the split multiplier.
- Update holdings records for tax reporting and long-term gain/loss calculations.
Tax rules differ across countries and individual circumstances; a split that includes fractional share cash‑outs or accompanying corporate actions could have different tax consequences. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for jurisdiction‑specific advice.
How to verify and adjust historical data
To confirm when did apple split their stock and to adjust historical price series correctly, follow these steps and sources:
- Official filings and company pages: Check Apple Investor Relations and official SEC filings (proxy statements, press releases) for authoritative split announcements and administrative dates.
- Transfer agent records: The company’s transfer agent maintains official share records and can confirm distribution and record dates.
- Reputable data vendors: Macrotrends, Stocksplithistory, CompaniesMarketCap, and similar services publish split tables and often provide split‑adjusted historical price series.
- Exchange notices: The exchange where the security trades provides technical notices on when trading will be adjusted.
Adjustment method (basic example): To produce a split‑adjusted historical price series, divide historical prices by the cumulative split multiplier applicable at the historical date. For instance, to compare a price from 2010 with a present price after the 2014 and 2020 splits, apply the 7×4 or full cumulative multiplier as appropriate for the period in question.
Reception, controversies, and commentary
Analysts and media typically treat stock splits as housekeeping corporate actions that can increase retail participation and attract short‑term attention. Commentary at the time of Apple’s larger splits (2014 and 2020) discussed the company’s desire to broaden access and accommodate smaller retail accounts.
Not all corporate actions or investor experiences are positive. Recent international restructuring events have highlighted how certain corporate processes can result in minority shareholders being excluded from recovery opportunities. As of January 2026, Bloomberg reported on a set of German restructurings (e.g., Varta AG, Leoni AG, Mynaric AG) where some retail shareholders were wiped out and had limited opportunity to participate in new equity raises; these stories underscored the risk that corporate restructuring, not stock splits, poses to investor capital in distressed situations. (Source: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg; reporting and context through January 2026.)
The Bloomberg coverage showed small shareholders’ complaints and legal actions in several cases where restructuring rules effectively prioritized creditors and large stakeholders. While these StaRUG-related events (Germany’s restructuring framework) are distinct from stock splits, they illustrate broader themes about shareholder rights, access to new capital, and the limits of retail protections in certain corporate actions. Investors should be mindful that corporate actions vary widely in economic effect and in how they treat small investors.
Future splits — considerations
Whether Apple will split again is a board-level decision and depends on strategic considerations such as per‑share price, investor access, stock liquidity, and the company’s perception of investor demand. Historically, Apple’s splits occurred at irregular intervals: 1987, 2000, 2005, 2014, and 2020. There is no fixed schedule for future splits.
Typical triggers that companies cite when considering a split include:
- A high nominal per‑share price that may be considered a barrier for some retail investors.
- Desire to broaden the shareholder base and improve tradeability.
- Administrative reasons related to share plans or options.
Any future split would be announced with a clear record date and distribution schedule, and investors should consult Apple’s Investor Relations and official filings for authoritative details.
See also
- Stock split (general explanation)
- Reverse stock split (definition and effects)
- Fractional share trading and brokerage handling
- Corporate actions and shareholder rights
- Apple corporate filings and investor relations materials
References and further reading
Representative authoritative sources used in compiling this article (no external links provided here):
- Apple Investor Relations — Share split history and company announcements (official source for split dates and administrative details).
- CNBC — Contemporary coverage of Apple’s 2020 4-for-1 split and announcement timeline.
- Motley Fool — History and context for Apple’s past stock splits.
- Nasdaq — Analysis and notices for corporate actions, index treatment, and technical adjustments.
- Business Insider — Reporting on the 2020 split and investor commentary.
- CompaniesMarketCap — Historical stock split tables for AAPL.
- Macrotrends, Stocksplithistory, Stockscan — Data vendors providing split tables and split‑adjusted historical price series.
- Bloomberg (Alex Kraus/Bloomberg) — Reporting on shareholder experiences and restructuring matters (referenced regarding StaRUG-related cases; reporting context as of January 2026).
Note: For legal or tax advice tied to splits and cost basis adjustments, please consult licensed professionals or official tax authorities.
Further action: If you want to trade or explore tokenized exposure, consider verifying available offerings and custody solutions on Bitget and using Bitget Wallet for secure asset management. For split histories and official confirmations, visit Apple Investor Relations and consult your broker’s corporate actions notices.
