when was the last time apple stock split

This article answers the question 'when was the last time apple stock split', gives the exact date and record/effective details, explains stock-split mechanics, summarizes Apple’s split history, an...

2025-08-24 08:54:00

By Emma Shah

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Apple stock splits

When was the last time apple stock split is a common question for investors and retail traders trying to understand Apple Inc.'s share-count and price history. This article gives a clear quick answer, walks through the mechanics of the most recent split, provides a concise timeline of previous splits, explains why companies split shares, and shows practical examples of how holdings and historical prices are adjusted.

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Quick answer

Direct answer: when was the last time apple stock split — Apple’s most recent split was a 4-for-1 stock split announced in July 2020 and executed in late August 2020.
Key dates commonly reported: Apple announced the split on July 30, 2020. The record date to determine shareholders eligible for the split was August 24, 2020, and many market-data providers and brokers show the split’s effective/distribution trading adjustment as August 31, 2020.

As of August 31, 2020, according to Apple Investor Relations, Apple implemented a 4-for-1 split; market-data providers such as CompaniesMarketCap and Macrotrends also list August 2020 (commonly Aug 31, 2020) as the effective date.

Background — what is a stock split?

A stock split increases the number of outstanding shares by issuing more shares to existing shareholders, while proportionally reducing the price per share so that the company’s market capitalization remains essentially unchanged immediately after the split (ignoring market movement). For example, in a 4-for-1 split each existing share is replaced with four shares; the per-share price drops to roughly one-quarter, and each shareholder’s ownership percentage of the company remains the same.

Companies use stock splits for several reasons:

Improve affordability for retail investors by lowering the per-share price.
Improve liquidity and make shares easier to trade.
Produce a marketing/psychological effect that can increase retail interest.
Facilitate certain index inclusions or weighting considerations (though a split does not change total market value).

Stock splits are corporate actions usually approved by a company’s board and communicated via official announcements and filings. They are not taxable events in most jurisdictions because no economic value is realized or distributed — instead, the number of shares and cost basis per share are adjusted.

Apple’s stock split history

Apple has conducted multiple stock splits since its initial public offering. The company has split shares five times since its IPO in 1980.

Timeline of splits

June 16, 1987 — 2-for-1 split
June 21, 2000 — 2-for-1 split
February 28, 2005 — 2-for-1 split
June 9, 2014 — 7-for-1 split
August 2020 — 4-for-1 split (most recent)

These corporate actions increased the number of shares outstanding at each event and adjusted historical price series accordingly for continuity in charts and performance measures.

The 2020 4‑for‑1 split (most recent)

when was the last time apple stock split? The clear, brief answer: the last time Apple stock split was a 4-for-1 split that was announced on July 30, 2020, with record and distribution activity in late August 2020 (record date Aug 24, 2020; common effective trading date listed as Aug 31, 2020).

Announcement and corporate actions

Apple announced the 4-for-1 split on July 30, 2020, alongside other corporate actions, and the company’s board approved the split. The official Apple Investor Relations materials and the company’s shareholder communications described the split ratio, the rationale, and the administrative record/distribution procedure.

As of July 30, 2020, according to Apple Investor Relations, Apple’s board approved a 4-for-1 stock split to make the company’s shares more accessible to a broader base of investors.

Mechanics (record date, distribution date, trading adjustments)

Announcement date: July 30, 2020 (Apple announced the split to the market).
Record date: August 24, 2020 (shareholders on record for that date were eligible for the split allocation).
Effective/distribution date (commonly cited): August 31, 2020 — many brokers adjusted shareholder accounts and trading prices on or around this date to reflect the 4-for-1 split.

Because brokers and market-data platforms use different internal processing windows, you may see small differences in how they report the exact “effective” date. Apple’s official disclosure and many financial-data services consistently mark August 2020 (with Aug 31 frequently shown as the day prices and share counts were adjusted) as the event month.

When a split takes effect, historical price series are adjusted by the split factor so that older prices reflect the post-split share basis for continuity in charts and returns. Brokers adjust client holdings (for example, one pre-split share becomes four post-split shares), and cost basis per share is reduced accordingly (total cost remains unchanged).

Market reaction and short-term effects

The immediate mechanical effect of a split is a lower per-share price with an unchanged total market capitalization. Common short-term market observations around a split include:

A sharp reduction in the listed per-share price on the effective trading date due to the split factor.
Often a noticeable increase in trading volume and retail interest because the lower price can attract more traders.
No direct change to the company’s fundamentals; any price performance after the split is driven by market sentiment and fundamentals, not by the split itself.

For the 2020 split, the market adjusted prices in late August 2020; trading volumes around the event showed increased retail activity, and data services noted the adjustment in historical series so charts and returns were consistent.

Reasons Apple (and similar large-cap tech companies) split shares

when was the last time apple stock split is often asked because investors want to know whether the company is trying to make shares more accessible or change market dynamics. Typical reasons include:

Affordability: A lower nominal share price makes it easier for small investors to buy whole shares (although fractional-share trading reduces that obstacle today).
Liquidity: More shares outstanding can increase the float available for trading and tighten bid-ask spreads.
Marketing/visibility: A high-profile split can drive renewed retail attention.
Index/ETF positioning: While splits don’t change total market value, they can have small operational effects on share counts used in index calculations or fund rebalancing.

Apple’s 2020 split was widely interpreted as an action to broaden access to Apple shares for smaller investors and to align per-share price with affordability goals.

Impact on shareholders and investors

A stock split affects share counts and per-share cost basis but does not change a shareholder’s percentage ownership of the company.

Key practical effects:

Share count: Shareholders receive additional shares according to the split ratio (for a 4-for-1 split, each share becomes four).
Cost basis: Total cost basis is unchanged; cost basis per share is divided by the split factor (e.g., original cost basis per share divided by four after a 4-for-1 split).
Taxes: In most jurisdictions, splits are non-taxable events because no property or cash is distributed; consult a tax professional for specific guidance in your jurisdiction.
Dividends/DRIPs: If a company pays dividends or offers dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs), per-share dividend amounts and DRIP allocations are adjusted to reflect the new share count.

Example calculation

Pre-split: An investor owns 10 shares of Apple at $400 per share (total value $4,000).
Split: Apple performs a 4-for-1 split.
Post-split: The investor now holds 40 shares. The new per-share price is roughly $100 (ignoring market moves). Total value remains $4,000. The cost basis per share is quartered.

This practical example shows that splits change the unit of ownership but not the underlying economic stake.

Comparison with previous Apple splits

Apple’s historical splits include mostly 2-for-1 events in the company’s earlier decades and a notable 7-for-1 split in 2014. Comparing the 2020 split to prior splits:

1987, 2000, 2005: 2-for-1 splits took place when Apple was growing its base and share price was rising.
2014: 7-for-1 split implemented on June 9, 2014, which substantially reduced the per-share price after several years of appreciation.
2020: 4-for-1 split — the company chose a different ratio than 2014’s 7-for-1, reflecting the board’s view of an appropriate post-split per-share price range.

Across each event, the company’s goal was commonly described as improving accessibility for investors and managing per-share pricing metrics.

How to verify split details (official sources)

To confirm split dates and mechanics, use the following authoritative sources and steps:

Apple Investor Relations: official press releases and shareholder FAQs provide primary confirmation of dates and mechanics. As of July–August 2020, Apple’s IR materials documented the 4-for-1 split announcement and procedural details.
SEC filings and proxy statements: corporate filings often reference board-approved corporate actions and can confirm the formal approval dates.
Market-data providers: services such as Macrotrends, Morningstar, and data aggregators list split histories and adjust historical prices accordingly. As of early September 2020, CompaniesMarketCap listed Aug 31, 2020 as the effective date for the 4-for-1 split.
Brokerage statements and notices: your broker will show specific record dates and the date your account received the adjusted share balances.

As of Aug 31, 2020, CompaniesMarketCap and Macrotrends listed the 4-for-1 split as having taken effect in late August 2020; for the most authoritative source, consult Apple Investor Relations’ announcement and the broker messages you received at the time.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: How many times has Apple split its stock?
A: Apple has split its stock five times (1987, 2000, 2005, 2014, and 2020).

Q: when was the last time apple stock split?
A: The last time Apple stock split was in August 2020 (4-for-1 split announced July 30, 2020; record date Aug 24, 2020; effective/distribution on or around Aug 31, 2020 as listed by many providers).

Q: Will a stock split change Apple’s market capitalization?
A: No. A split changes the number of shares and per-share price but does not change total market capitalization at the moment of the split.

Q: Do stock splits trigger taxes?
A: Splits are generally non-taxable events because no value is distributed; cost basis and share count are adjusted. Consult a tax professional for specific jurisdictional rules.

Q: Where can I see Apple’s split history in official records?
A: Apple Investor Relations pages, SEC filings, and broker notices provide official confirmation of splits and dates.

References and further reading

As of July 30, 2020, Apple Investor Relations announced the board-approved 4-for-1 split and provided the record/distribution timetable in its investor materials.
As of Aug 31, 2020, CompaniesMarketCap and Macrotrends listed the 4-for-1 split as the most recent split and show the split date as late August 2020.
Market-data pages (Morningstar, Yahoo Finance, Investing.com) and brokerage statements provide adjusted historical prices and confirmations for investors.

(Reference notes: the dates and event descriptions above are drawn from Apple’s investor communications in July–August 2020 and respected market-data services that list corporate actions and split histories.)

Notes for editors

Minor discrepancies exist between some data providers on the exact effective date shown for the 2020 split. Apple’s official materials list the announcement and the record date; many brokers and data providers show Aug 31, 2020 as the day on which price and share balances were adjusted in trading systems. For definitive confirmation of the date on which a specific account received adjusted shares, consult your brokerage’s account records.
When reporting the event, cite Apple Investor Relations and the broker’s client notices for the most authoritative source of timing and mechanics.

Practical checklist for investors (preparing for or verifying a split)

Check the company’s official announcement on Investor Relations.
Verify the record date and the date your broker plans to reflect adjusted shares.
Expect adjusted historical prices on charts and performance metrics — many charting services apply the split factor automatically.
Confirm your cost basis adjustments with your broker for tax reporting.

Final notes

Summary: when was the last time apple stock split — Apple’s most recent split was a 4-for-1 split announced July 30, 2020, with record date Aug 24, 2020 and common effective/distribution date shown as Aug 31, 2020 by many data providers.
For the most authoritative confirmation, consult Apple Investor Relations and your brokerage notices.

If you’d like, I can expand the section on tax treatment for your jurisdiction, create a downloadable example calculation worksheet for pre/post-split holdings, or provide a simple chart-ready dataset adjusting Apple’s historical prices for each split.

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