when was the last time microsoft stock split
Microsoft stock split history
Quick answer: when was the last time microsoft stock split? The most recent Microsoft stock split was a 2-for-1 split that took effect in February 2003 (commonly cited effective/ex-date: February 18, 2003). This article explains that event, lists Microsoft’s full split history, outlines why companies split shares, and shows the cumulative arithmetic effect for early investors.
Overview — what a stock split is and why it matters
A stock split is a corporate action that increases the number of a company's outstanding shares by issuing more shares to current shareholders in proportion to their holdings. The total market capitalization of the company does not change immediately due to a split — each existing share is replaced by multiple shares and the per-share price is adjusted downward by the same factor.
The phrase when was the last time microsoft stock split is frequently searched by investors and casual readers who want to know whether Microsoft recently made its shares more affordable by splitting them. This article addresses that direct question and provides context about Microsoft’s split history, the mechanics of the 2003 split, observed market effects, and why Microsoft has not split since then.
When was the last time microsoft stock split? The short answer: February 2003 (2-for-1).
Last stock split — direct answer and key facts
- Official short answer: when was the last time microsoft stock split? It was a 2-for-1 split in February 2003. Major market-data and company-history sources commonly cite February 18, 2003 as the effective/ex-date for the split.
- Type: 2-for-1 stock split (each existing share became two shares).
- Immediate arithmetic effect: outstanding shares doubled; per-share trading price was adjusted to roughly half the pre-split price, leaving company market cap unchanged in principle.
- Note on dates: different publications sometimes list the announcement date, the record date, or the ex/effective date. The commonly reported effective/ex-date for this split is Feb 18, 2003, though registrars and SEC filings will show the formal record/payable details.
When was the last time microsoft stock split? Repeating for clarity: the last time Microsoft split its common stock was February 2003 (2-for-1).
Full historical timeline of Microsoft stock splits
Microsoft conducted multiple stock splits during its early growth years. Below is a chronological list with the commonly cited dates and ratios. These splits transformed one pre-IPO or early Microsoft share into many shares over time.
- September 21, 1987 — 2-for-1
- April 16, 1990 — 2-for-1
- June 27, 1991 — 3-for-2
- June 15, 1992 — 3-for-2
- May 23, 1994 — 2-for-1
- December 9, 1996 — 2-for-1
- February 23, 1998 — 2-for-1
- March 29, 1999 — 2-for-1
- February 18, 2003 — 2-for-1 (last split)
Cumulative effect: after all of the above splits, a single original share would have become 288 shares (multiplicative effect of the series of ratios). That cumulative arithmetic is useful when tracing historical per-share prices back to early years.
When was the last time microsoft stock split? As you review the timeline above, note that the 2003 event is the final entry.
Mechanics of the 2003 split (how the 2-for-1 worked)
A typical corporate stock-split process follows these steps (the 2003 Microsoft split followed these conventions):
- Board approval and public announcement: the company board approves a split and issues an announcement with details including the split ratio and expected dates (announcement, record, payable/ex-date).
- Record date: shareholders of record on the record date are entitled to the additional shares or the split treatment.
- Ex-dividend/ex-date (effective date): on this trading day the share price is adjusted to reflect the split; exchanges and market-data providers report the split as effective from this date.
- Share distribution/processing: brokers and transfer agents update shareholder accounts to reflect the increased share count.
For Microsoft’s Feb 2003 2-for-1 split the immediate arithmetic effect was straightforward: every shareholder received one additional share for each share they held, doubling outstanding shares and halving the per-share price (ignoring small rounding differences and market price changes due to trading). When was the last time microsoft stock split? That doubling of per-share count happened in February 2003.
Why companies (including Microsoft historically) split stock
Common rationales for stock splits:
- Perceived affordability: splitting a high-priced share into lower-priced units can make the stock feel more accessible to retail investors.
- Liquidity: more shares outstanding at a lower price can increase trading liquidity and tighten bid-ask spreads.
- Employee compensation and equity plans: splits can simplify grant sizes and option strike price structures for employee stock options or RSUs.
- Signaling: a split may be interpreted by some investors as a signal that management expects continued growth.
Microsoft frequently split its stock in the late 1980s and 1990s during periods of rapid growth and rising share prices. When was the last time microsoft stock split? The company’s last use of a split came in February 2003 after a decade of multiple splits.
Note: Stock splits do not change the underlying fundamentals of a business. The total market capitalization remains the same immediately after a split (barring market moves), and splits are distinct from dividends and other capital distributions.
Market and shareholder impact — short-term and long-term observations
- Short-term reaction: stock splits sometimes produce modest short-term price moves driven by behavioral factors, renewed retail interest, and media coverage. However, academic studies generally show no consistent long-term value creation solely from the split event itself.
- Liquidity and accessibility: a lower per-share price can encourage participation from retail investors and make trading certain lot sizes easier.
- Employee compensation: splits lower option strike prices in nominal terms and can affect perceived attractiveness of equity compensation packages.
When was the last time microsoft stock split? For most long-term holders, the 2003 split was administratively relevant (doubling share counts) but did not change the company’s intrinsic business performance. Any post-split returns reflect operating results, product cycles, and macro market conditions rather than the split mechanics.
Why Microsoft has not split again since 2003 — modern contextual factors
Microsoft has not announced or executed another stock split since 2003. Several contextual reasons explain why large-cap companies may choose not to split again:
- Fractional-share trading: modern brokerages increasingly offer fractional-share trading, removing the affordability barrier that previously motivated splits. Retail investors can buy fractional pieces of an expensive share without the company taking corporate action.
- Company policy and priorities: management may prefer to focus on capital allocation (buybacks, dividends, M&A, R&D) rather than use splits.
- Market structure and index membership: being a large-cap, widely held company means many types of investors can access the stock without a split.
As of January 16, 2026, many market observers also note that Big Tech firms face different capital-allocation choices than in the 1990s. When was the last time microsoft stock split? That remains February 2003.
Context from market reporting: as of January 16, 2026, market coverage noted an AI-driven rally and supportive earnings in the tech and financial sectors (reporting compiled by major outlets). Some commentators and rating agencies mentioned that diversified Big Tech companies like Microsoft tend to be more resilient to short-term shocks; such macro market context can influence whether management considers a split. This reporting (Yahoo Finance, Reuters coverage aggregated on Jan 16, 2026) provides background but does not indicate any Microsoft split announcements.
Factors that might prompt a future Microsoft split (hypothetical criteria, not a prediction)
While we do not offer investment advice or predictions, historically companies consider splits when:
- Per-share price becomes very high relative to peer or perceived retail affordability.
- Company wishes to boost retail interest or liquidity for strategic reasons.
- Management wants to align share counts with equity compensation structures.
Microsoft’s large market cap, wide availability on broker platforms, and prevalence of fractional trading make a split less essential than it once was. When was the last time microsoft stock split? Still Feb 2003 — and as of Jan 16, 2026 there was no official announcement signaling a new split.
Cumulative effect example — tracking one early share to today
Illustrative example (arithmetic, excludes dividends):
- Start: 1 share pre-splits
- After Sep 21, 1987 (2-for-1) → 2 shares
- After Apr 16, 1990 (2-for-1) → 4 shares
- After Jun 27, 1991 (3-for-2) → 6 shares
- After Jun 15, 1992 (3-for-2) → 9 shares
- After May 23, 1994 (2-for-1) → 18 shares
- After Dec 9, 1996 (2-for-1) → 36 shares
- After Feb 23, 1998 (2-for-1) → 72 shares
- After Mar 29, 1999 (2-for-1) → 144 shares
- After Feb 18, 2003 (2-for-1) → 288 shares
So one original share became 288 shares after the full series. When was the last time microsoft stock split? The final step in this conversion happened in February 2003.
This arithmetic is useful for converting historical per-share prices into present-day equivalent share counts when analyzing long-term returns.
Verifying split dates and official records
Authoritative sources for split dates and ratios include:
- Microsoft Investor Relations materials and official press releases
- SEC filings (8-Ks, proxy statements) and historical registrars
- Major market-data providers and exchanges (which report split history and adjust historical price series accordingly)
When precise legal or record-date detail is required, consult Microsoft’s corporate filings and the transfer agent records. When was the last time microsoft stock split? For most purposes, Feb 18, 2003 is the effective/ex-date cited across company histories and market-data references; the formal filings contain the complete record.
Market context note — reporting date and background
- As of January 16, 2026, market coverage by major outlets showed renewed tech strength driven by AI optimism and positive earnings among banks and asset managers. That same coverage noted that diversified Big Tech companies, including Microsoft, are generally seen as resilient in various hypothetical stress scenarios. This background helps explain why a company like Microsoft might or might not choose to take capital actions such as splits, but it does not replace official company announcements.
When was the last time microsoft stock split? Confirmed: February 2003; there was no later split through the Jan 16, 2026 reporting window.
Primary references and verification (sources used for dates and context)
Primary references (source names only, consult each organization's historical data or Microsoft investor relations for official confirmation):
- Microsoft Investor Relations (company historical FAQ/press releases)
- Nasdaq historical listings and corporate actions
- Yahoo Finance historical events and editorial coverage (market context Jan 16, 2026)
- Reuters corporate and market reporting
- Major market-data providers and financial news archives (Investing.com, Yahoo, Motley Fool-style historical pages)
As of January 16, 2026, the summarized market context above was derived from aggregated reporting by major news outlets (noting AI-led tech interest, TSMC’s strong outlook for AI spending, and beating earnings at some big financial firms). These context items do not change the historical fact that when was the last time microsoft stock split — February 2003.
See also
- Stock split (general definition and mechanics)
- Fractional shares and modern broker features
- Microsoft Corporation (company profile and investor relations)
- Historical stock price adjustment and split-adjusted charts
External links and actions
- For the authoritative split record, consult Microsoft Investor Relations or the SEC filings (search for the relevant 2003 filings and transfer agent notices).
- If you trade or monitor equities, consider modern platforms that support fractional-share trading and advanced portfolio tools. For users exploring crypto, tokenization, or integrated trading services, Bitget provides trading and wallet solutions and tools for portfolio monitoring (no external link provided here). Explore Bitget’s platform features directly through your usual app store or the Bitget interface.
FAQ — quick checks
Q: when was the last time microsoft stock split? A: February 2003 (2-for-1).
Q: Has Microsoft split since 2003? A: No — there has been no public announcement or recorded split after the Feb 2003 split as of Jan 16, 2026.
Q: Where to verify an exact record/ex-date? A: Check Microsoft Investor Relations, the SEC filings (8-K or proxy), or the transfer agent records for the formal dates.
Notes for editors and contributors
- Date conventions: sources may report different dates (announcement date, record date, payable date, ex/effective date). When precision matters, quote the company filing or transfer agent record. This article uses the commonly reported effective/ex-date Feb 18, 2003 for the last Microsoft split.
- Data currency: the contextual market reporting referenced here is current through January 16, 2026 as noted above. For the latest market metrics (market cap, average daily volume), consult live market-data services or the exchange quotes.
- Tone: factual, neutral, and non-prescriptive. This article provides historical and mechanical information only and is not investment advice.
Final guidance — further exploration
If you want to confirm the split history, review Microsoft’s investor-relations archive and SEC filings. For trading, portfolio monitoring, or fractional ownership tools, consider platforms and custodial services that fit your needs; Bitget offers trading and wallet services with multi-asset features suitable for users who want an integrated experience. Remember to verify official corporate records for legal dates and consult licensed professionals for individualized financial advice.
When was the last time microsoft stock split? Now you have the answer and the timeline to explore further: February 2003 was the last split, and the full historical timeline above shows how early shares expanded to 288 shares after consecutive splits.
Reported date for market context: As of January 16, 2026, according to aggregated reporting by major outlets (Yahoo Finance, Reuters and related coverage cited above).
