Can you make money from a reverse stock split?
Can you make money from reverse stock splits? A reverse stock split isn't usually a get-rich-quick ploy, but it could lead to greater rewards for savvy investors. In some cases, reverse splits can increase investor confidence and potentially boost the price of a stock as more investors take interest and snap up shares.
Many times reverse splits are viewed negatively, as they signal that a company's share price has declined significantly, possibly putting it at risk of being delisted. The higher-priced shares following the split may also be less attractive to certain retail investors who prefer stocks with lower sticker prices.
As previously noted, the reverse split itself doesn't result in any change in the value of an investor's position in a stock because the smaller number of post-split shares is offset by the proportionally higher per-share price. However, a reverse split can certainly change investor perception of the company.
One way is to buy shares of the company before the reverse split occurs with the plan to sell them soon afterwards. This can be profitable if the company's stock price increases after the split. Another way to make money from a reverse stock split is to short sell the stock of the company.
A reverse stock split has no immediate effect on the company's value, as its market capitalization remains the same after it's executed. However, it often leads to a drop in the stock's market price as investors see it as a sign of financial weakness.
Attractive prices: Reverse stock splits often make stock prices more attractive to bigger institutional investors such as mutual funds, since stock prices below a certain amount won't be considered when they decide what stocks to purchase.
The reverse stock split doesn't cause investors to lose money by itself, but the move can signal to investors that the company is in financial trouble, which can lead to a sell-off. This will lower the value of the stock price, and stockholders will lose money.
Stock splits are generally not taxable, as the cost basis per share is updated to reflect the new stock structure and price so that the total market value is the same.
A company may declare a reverse stock split in an effort to increase the trading price of its shares – for example, when it believes the trading price is too low to attract investors to purchase shares, or in an attempt to regain compliance with minimum bid price requirements of an exchange on which its shares trade.
Some companies may only conduct a reverse split once, while others may do it multiple times. Reverse splits are more common among small-cap stocks than large-cap stocks.
How long does a reverse split take?
A reverse split lowers the number of outstanding shares. The price goes up so the company's market capitalization stays the same. And the shares' market value remains the same. A reverse split usually occurs the trading day after the company announces it.
Among the 1206 firms conducting a reverse stock split, we find that, within five years of the reverse split, 138 or about 11% are acquired by another company while 568 or about 47% enter bankruptcy or fail to meet listing standards.
Reverse stock splits are rare in today's stock market in part because of their controversial nature.
Disadvantages of a Stock Split
The company wanting to split their stock must pay a great deal to have no movement in its over market capitalization value. A stock split isn't worthless, but it doesn't impact the fundamental position of a company and therefore doesn't create additional value.
It would be considered a fractional share and you would be paid out in cash at the time of the split. Since you only have one share, you would receive 6.67% of the cash value of the new share price. Note that a split does nothing to change the value of the underlying security.
For example, if most shareholders of a stock own fewer than 1,000 shares, the company can do a 1:1,000 reverse split and squeeze out the investors who own fewer shares by paying them for their holdings. Those shareholders would either have to accept that price or buy more shares to total 1,000.
Reverse stock split
The holder of an option contract will have the same number of contracts with an increase in strike price based on the reverse split value. The option contract will now represent a reduced number of shares based on the reverse stock split value.
That said, many stocks have shown strong performance after a split. In other words, selling your shares of a stock prior to a split isn't always the best decision – unless, of course, you're not well-positioned to continue holding the stock.
A stock split increases the number of shares a company has, but it doesn't automatically make anyone any richer. There are some psychological reasons why companies split their stock but the business fundamentals remain the same.
A reverse stock split may be used to reduce the number of shareholders. If a company completes a reverse split in which 1 new share is issued for every 100 old shares, any investor holding fewer than 100 shares would simply receive a cash payment.
Is a reverse split bullish or bearish?
On the flipside, a reverse split is done to reduce the number of outstanding shares and thus increase the price of a stock that has fallen and is perhaps at risk of being delisted. This move is typically seen as bearish for the company, and the stock often moves lower as a result.
- Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA): 4-for-1 split.
- Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): 20-for-1 split.
- DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM): 4-for-1 split.
- Shopify (NYSE: SHOP): 10-for-1 split.
- Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG): 20-for-1 split.
- Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA): 3-for-1 split.
A stock split is neither inherently good nor bad. Again, after the split itself your position as an investor remains unchanged. You own a different number of shares, but the value of your investment remains the same. However, stock splits often do lead to portfolio growth.
Selling before a reverse stock split is a good idea, but selling after the reverse stock split is not. Since you can sell before and after a reverse stock split, selling during one is optional. The main advantage of selling before the reverse stock split is that you don't have to wait around for it to happen.
An Important Cue from Financial Execs
On the flipside, a reverse split is done to reduce the number of outstanding shares and thus increase the price of a stock that has fallen and is perhaps at risk of being delisted. This move is typically seen as bearish for the company, and the stock often moves lower as a result.
