Stock Splits Journal Entry Example

The key advantage of a stock split is an increase in the number of shares outstanding and therefore an increase in free float. Along with the fact that the stock price is decreasing in proportion to the split ratio, this makes them more affordable to investors and increases their liquidity. As companies grow, their per share market price usually increases and sometime it becomes too expensive or even unaffordable for common investor.

A large stock dividend occurs when a distribution of stock to existing shareholders is greater than 25% of the total outstanding shares just before the distribution. The accounting for large stock dividends differs from that of small stock dividends because a large dividend impacts the stock’s market value per share. While there may be a subsequent change in the market price of the stock after a small dividend, it is not as abrupt as that with a large dividend. Large stock dividends are those in which the new shares issued are more than 25% of the value of the total shares outstanding before the dividend. In this case, the journal entry transfers the par value of the issued shares from retained earnings to paid-in capital. A company’s board of directors has the power to formally vote to declare dividends.

Reverse Splits

When a company’s stock splits, the change in the par value is offset by a corresponding change in the number of shares so the total par value remains the same. The total stockholders’ equity is unaffected by the stock split and no entries are recorded. For example, if Grandma’s Girls declared a 3‐for‐1 stock split instead of a 10% stock dividend, the company would issue three shares in place of every one share currently held. After the split occurs, the par value or stated value is divided by 3 (because it is a 3‐for‐1 stock split) to determine the new par or stated value, and the number of outstanding shares is multiplied by 3. After the stock split, the new par value is $1 ($3 ÷ 3) and the number of outstanding shares is 1,500,000 (500,000 × 3). The total par value of the common stock remains at $1,500,000 (1,500,000 shares × $1 par value).

A 3-for-1 stock split means that for every one share held by an investor, there will now be three. In other words, the number of outstanding shares in the market will triple. Notice that there is no impact on the total par value of common stock and the total stockholders’ equity of Western Company.

Accounting for stock splits

After some deliberations, the board of directors has decided to distribute a $1.00 cash dividend on each share of common stock. This is the date that dividend payments are prepared and sent to shareholders who owned shares on the date of record. The related journal entry is a fulfillment of the obligation established on the declaration date – 30th July; it reduces the Dividends Payable account (with a debit) and the Cash account (with a credit). A reverse/forward stock split is a special stock split strategy used by companies to eliminate shareholders holding less than a certain number of shares. A reverse/forward stock split consists of a reverse stock split followed by a forward stock split.

Because there are 10% more shares outstanding, each share should drop in value. Perhaps a corporation does not want to part with its cash, but wants to give something to its stockholders. If the board of directors approves a 10% stock dividend, each stockholder will get an additional share of stock for each 10 shares held. The only journal entry needed for a stock split is a memo entry to note that the number of shares has changed and that the par value per share has changed (if the stock has a par value).

What is the journal entry to record a stock split or reverse stock split?

The stock dividend rewards shareholders without reducing the company’s cash balance. On 31 January 2021, the board of directors proposed a 5-for-4 stock split which was duly approved and new shares were distributed among stockholders. A Stock Split occurs when a company increases the number of outstanding shares with a proportional decrease in the par https://turbo-tax.org/production-activities/ or stated value. To effect the split, the stockholders approved an increase in the authorized common stock from 10,000,000 to 25,000,000 shares. All references to per-share data and stock option data have been adjusted to reflect this stock split. From the investor’s viewpoint, each stockholder receives two additional shares for each share owned.

Many of the best companies routinely see their share price return to levels at which they previously split the stock, leading to another stock split. Walmart, for instance, split its stock 11 times on a 2-for-1 basis between the retailer’s stock-market debut in October 1970 and March 1999. An investor who bought 100 shares in Walmart’s initial public offering (IPO) would have seen that stake grow to 204,800 shares over the next 30 years without any additional purchases. On the other hand, the price per share after the 3-for-1 stock split will be reduced by dividing the old share price by 3.

Dividend Reinvestments

Many corporations distribute cash dividends after a formal declaration is passed by the board of directors. Journal entries are required on both the date of declaration and the date of payment. The date of record and the ex-dividend date are important in identifying the owners entitled to receive the dividend but no transaction occurs. Preferred stock dividends are often cumulative so that any dividends in arrears must be paid before a common stock distribution can be made.

Stock dividends are when a company gives each shareholder additional stock in lieu of a cash dividend. In recent years, many fast-growing companies haven’t paid dividends at all. Their fast-growing stock prices are all the reward that their investors demand. The process of a stock split is expensive, requires legal oversight, and must be performed in accordance with regulatory laws. The company wanting to split their stock must pay a great deal to have no movement in its over market capitalization value.

Rapidly growing companies often have share splits to keep the per share price from reaching stratospheric levels that could deter some investors. In the final analysis, understand that a stock split is mostly cosmetic as it does not change the underlying economics of the firm. Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares have never been split, so the price has followed the company’s growth over time. Since the price of a Class A share was over $121,000 on May 2, 2012, smaller investors may have chosen not to invest in Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares because of cash-flow or liquidity concerns. Shares may be repurchased if the management of the company feels that the company’s stock is undervalued in the market. It repurchases the shares with the intention of selling them once the market price of the shares increase to accurately reflect their true value.