A stock split, like a stock dividend, involves issuance of additional shares to stock-holders according to their percentage ownership. However, a stock split results in areduction in the par or stated value per share. The purpose of a stock split is to in-crease the marketability of the stock by lowering its market value per share. This, inturn, makes it easier for the corporation to issue additional stock.The effect of a split on market value is generally inversely proportional to thesize of the split. For example, after a recent 2-for-1 stock split, the market value ofNike’s stock fell from $111 to approximately $55. The lower market value stimu-lated market activity, and within one year the stock was trading above $100 again.In a stock split, the number of shares increases in the same proportion that paror stated value per share decreases. For example, in a 2-for-1 split, one share of $10par value stock is exchanged for two shares of $5 par value stock. A stock split doesnot have any effect on total paid-in capital, retained earnings, or total stockholders’equity. But the number of shares outstanding increases, and par value per sharedecreases. Illustration 14-6 shows these effects for Medland Corporation, assumingthat it splits its 50,000 shares of common stock on a 2-for-1 basis.
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