How many times has Google stock split?

 Google, now part of Alphabet Inc., has been a major player in the technology and Internet industry since its inception. Its shares have been popular among investors for many years. One aspect that often catches the attention of investors and market enthusiasts is the history of stock splits. Stock splits are corporate actions that affect a company's outstanding shares and can have a significant impact on the stock's price and availability to a wider range of investors. In this article, we'll examine how many times Google (Alphabet Inc.) has undergone stock splits and what those splits mean for investors.

History of Google stock splits:

Google went public on August 19, 2004 with its initial public offering (IPO). At the time, the company's shares were valued at $85 apiece. However, it wasn't long before Google decided to undergo its first stock split.

First stock split (2004):

Date: March 27, 2014

Ratio: 2 to 1

In its first stock split in 2014, Google issued an additional share for every share held by existing shareholders. This essentially cut Google's stock price in half, making it more affordable for retail investors. After the split, each shareholder owned twice as many shares, but the total value of their investment remained the same.

Second stock split (2015):

Date: April 2, 2014

Ratio: 1 to 1 (Class C shares)

In 2015, Google launched a new class of shares, known as Class C shares (GOOG). These shares have no voting rights, while the existing Class A shares (GOOGL) have retained their voting rights. To make the transition smoother for shareholders, Google implemented a stock split for Class A shares, giving shareholders one Class C share for each Class A share they owned. The move allowed the company's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, to retain control of the company while allowing for broader public ownership.

Third stock split (2019):

Date: April 3, 2019

Ratio: 1 for 1,500 (Class C shares)

In 2019, Google (Alphabet Inc.) implemented a significant stock split for its Class C shares. This split was unique in that it was a 1 for 1,500 split, meaning that for each Class C share held, shareholders received 1 500 new Class C shares. The objective of this extraordinary ratio was to keep the share price affordable for retail investors, especially for the purpose of rewarding employees' shares.

Impact on investors:

Stock splits such as Google's do not change the total value of an investor's holdings. Instead, they increase the number of shares an investor holds while decreasing the price of individual shares. The primary objective of such distributions is to make the shares available to a wider range of investors, including individual retail investors.

Google, now Alphabet Inc., has gone through three stock splits since its 2004 IPO. These splits make its shares more affordable and accessible to a wider range of investors. While the first two splits were relatively conventional, the third split in 2019 at a ratio of 1 to 1,500 was quite unusual but served the same purpose of keeping the stock price within reach for retail investors. Google's stock split history reflects its commitment to maintaining an open and inclusive shareholder base while continuing to grow as a technology giant in the industry.