Tag: Stock Splits

Nvidia’s Mega Stock Split Signals Opportunity for Emerging Growth Plays

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The opening trading bell on Monday ushered in a new era for semiconductor giant Nvidia (NVDA). The company’s white-hot stock began trading on a split-adjusted basis after undergoing a massive 10-for-1 stock split. This slashed Nvidia’s share price from over $1,200 to around $120, while multiplying the total shares outstanding tenfold.

For Nvidia, the split was a pragmatic move to make its stock more accessible to a wider range of investors after seeing its valuation soar past $3 trillion amid skyrocketing demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) chips. But the split also serves as an opportune reminder of the massive growth runway ahead for emerging players across the tech, AI, and semiconductor spaces.

As the appetite for advanced AI capabilities grows, companies able to provide the critical hardware, software, and cloud infrastructure are in the stratosphere in terms of market opportunity. Nvidia’s leadership position and shrewd strategic moves like this split should prompt investors to closely watch the rising cohort of potential AI/tech upstarts.

Why Stock Splits Matter
While stock splits have no impact on a company’s market capitalization or fundamentals, they do foster greater liquidity and affordability in trading the stock. This can open the floodgates for more participation from retail investors and ownership by funds previously restricted from buying such pricey shares.

There is also a psychological element. Stock splits are often viewed as a bullish signal of a company having exceeded its prior growth expectations. The increased affordability and accessibility of shares can also fuel incremental investor demand alone. Research shows stocks that split their shares tend to outperform the broader market in the year after announcing their split.

Nvidia’s split checks all of these boxes. Its relentless 90%+ rally in 2024 has been fueled by insatiable demand for its AI hardware from juggernauts like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and a rapidly expanding set of sectors. Even after the split, analysts have an average price target north of $300 per share, implying over 140% upside potential from current levels. More affordable shares set the stage for further momentum.

Following the Leader
As the disruptive force of AI grows, more companies are racing to build their own chips, cloud services, and software tools to tap into this generational shift. Many of these upstarts could be prime candidates to pursue stock splits of their own as their solutions gain traction and valuations expand.

Keep an eye on AI semiconductor developers like Cerebras, SambaNova, and Groq that are designing specialized chips for AI workloads. There are also startups building their own AI cloud platforms and services like Anthropic, Cohere, and Adept that could become attractive public investment vehicles down the road.

Software players creating AI tools and applications tailored for specific industries like healthcare (Hugging Face), cybersecurity (Abnormal Security), or autonomous driving (Wayve) may also emerge as compelling split candidates as their categories take shape.

A rising tide of private capital being deployed into AI companies is fueling the rapid growth and maturation of many startups, pushing them closer to the public markets. Like Nvidia, those able to reach scale and capture significant market share should have ample justification to make their shares more affordable to incoming investors through splits.

Within the larger chip landscape, graphics processors tailored for AI and gaming workloads could become an M&A focus for incumbents like AMD, Intel, or Qualcomm looking to challenge Nvidia. Rising M&A premiums and valuations may incentivize others to split their shares as more investors jockey for exposure.

Bottom Line
Nvidia’s eye-popping stock split demonstrates the immense opportunity created by disruptive innovations like AI and generative technology. While still in its nascency, this revolution is rapidly ushering in a new wave of emerging tech leaders able to capitalize on this sea change.

Smart investors should monitor the publicly traded AI/chip space closely, keeping an eye out for the next stock split candidate as the next Nvidia may be just around the corner. As adoption further accelerates, these prospective splits could signal prime entry points for getting ahead of massive growth runways in these future-shaping fields.

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Nvidia’s AI-Driven Stock Split Could Unlock New Investor Appeal and Dow Jones Potential

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

As the semiconductor industry’s unrivaled leader in artificial intelligence, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has become a Wall Street sensation in recent years. The company’s latest strategic move – a 10-for-1 stock split – could further amplify its appeal to both individual investors and the prestigious Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The announcement of Nvidia’s stock split, effective June 7th, comes on the heels of the company’s blockbuster Q1 2024 earnings report. With revenue and forecasts exceeding analyst expectations, Nvidia’s shares have more than doubled so far this year, solidifying the chipmaker’s status as a bona fide tech titan.

Lowering the Barrier to Entry for Retail Investors
Nvidia’s decision to split its stock could open the doors wider for individual, or “retail,” investors to participate in the company’s AI-driven growth story. By reducing the per-share price from around $1,040 to approximately $104, the split makes Nvidia’s stock more accessible to investors with smaller trading accounts.

Analysts believe the lower price point could spark greater interest from retail investors, who typically trade in smaller lots compared to institutional investors. Currently, Nvidia is the most heavily weighted stock in the average retail trading portfolio, accounting for 9.3% of holdings – a figure that has more than doubled from a year ago.

While many retail investors can already buy fractional shares, the lower price could still make Nvidia more appealing to those without access to such features. The reduced share price could make Nvidia’s stock “less of an obstacle” for these investors, according to one expert.

Paving the Way for Dow Jones Inclusion
In addition to attracting more retail interest, Nvidia’s stock split could also improve the company’s prospects for inclusion in the prestigious Dow Jones Industrial Average. As a price-weighted index, the Dow favors lower-priced stocks, and Nvidia’s current share price of around $1,040 would make it the second-largest component, behind only UnitedHealth Group.

However, after the split, Nvidia’s share price would fall to approximately $104, making it the 21st-largest stock in the Dow, just behind Merck and ahead of Walt Disney. This more manageable price point could pave the way for Nvidia’s eventual inclusion in the blue-chip index.

Analysts believe Nvidia “checks all the boxes” for Dow Jones inclusion, citing the company’s strong reputation, history of sustained growth, investor appeal, and sector representation.

A Potential Boost for Shareholder Returns
Historically, companies that announce stock splits have tended to outperform the market. According to an analysis from Bank of America Global Research, stocks announcing splits have seen their shares rise an average of 25.4% over the following 12 months, compared to an 11.9% increase for the S&P 500.

However, it’s important to note that a stock split alone is unlikely to overcome broader market forces that can sway a company’s share price. As evidenced by the selloffs experienced by Amazon and Alphabet in 2022, even after their own stock splits, external factors such as rising interest rates can still weigh heavily on stock performance.

Nonetheless, Nvidia’s stock split announcement comes at a time when the company’s AI dominance has made it a must-have investment for both institutional and individual investors. By making its shares more accessible and potentially paving the way for Dow Jones inclusion, this move could further cement Nvidia’s position as a leading player in the rapidly evolving semiconductor and AI landscapes.

Are Reverse Stock Splits a Red Flag?

Posted on by phoffman@channelchek.com

There are Many Reasons for a Reverse Split; All are Designed to Benefit Stakeholders

So far this quarter, there have been 59 reverse stock splits. These include industries as diverse as the apparel company Digital Brands Group (DBGI), which is consolidating its shares today, and Blue Apron (APRN), an e-commerce food prep provider, back on July 8th. In theory, this is a financial arrangement similar to asking for a $100 bill in exchange for five $20 dollar bills. But the reasons are more complicated and diverse. Understanding why a company you own, or are considering buying or shorting shares in, is consolidating ownership units can help you understand if the new shares are more likely to gain or lose value.

Background

As with the exchange of smaller denominated bills for larger ones, a reverse stock split is an action in which a company reduces its total outstanding shares while proportionally increasing the price per new share. It’s done by the company’s registrar by combining a certain number of existing shares into a single new share. For example, a 1-for-10 reverse stock split would result in every 10 shares of the company being converted into 1 new share.

From the shareholder side, their percentage ownership in the company remains unchanged; the value of that percentage will change as market forces revalue those shares.

Reasons for a Reverse Split

A corporate action such as a reverse split is not inexpensive for the company, so if it is conducting one, it must see a benefit. The primary reasons range from crisis management to an attempt to broaden the share’s appeal.

The category of crisis management includes working to prevent delisting from an exchange. The major stock exchanges have minimum share price requirements. If a company’s stock price falls below this minimum, it will be delisted from the exchange. Back in March, Bed Bath and Beyond went to shareholders asking for permission to do a reverse split in order to not be delisted for having a stock price lower than the Nasdaq threshold. The company was criticized as it showed that management did not have confidence that the price would rise on its own. At times when a company is approaching the minimum threshold for being listed on an exchange, they will look to do a reverse split, this can boost the per share price and prevent delisting.

In some cases there isn’t a crisis; management is simply managing perception in an effort to improve the stock’s image. This is because a stock that trades at a low price may be perceived as being risky or unpopular. A reverse stock split can give the appearance of a more valuable stock, which may attract more investors.

Conforming to the requirements of certain buyers, specifically institutional investors may also lead to a reverse split. Many institutional investors have minimum investment requirements. A reverse stock split can help to make a stock more attractive to these investors.

Bringing up the dollar price to simplify trading is another reason. A reverse stock split can make it easier to trade a stock, especially if the shares have a price below one dollar.

The Caution Signs When a Company Undergoes a Reverse Split

There are certainly potential negatives to shareholders when a company has a  reverse stock split. For example, a reverse stock split can decrease liquidity, making it less liquid; for example, it may be more difficult to buy or sell.

Some investors may view a reverse stock split as a negative signal about the company’s financial health; if the action isn’t expected to cure the ailment, it may serve to feed into a growing list of things investors don’t like about the company.

Shareholders could wind up owning a lesser portion of the company if the split results in fractional shares. For example, if the stock you own 97 shares in reverse 1 for 10. You’ll receive 9 shares and, most often, the cash equivalent of seven shares.

Ultimately, whether or not a reverse stock split is a good idea for a company depends on the specific circumstances. Investors should carefully consider the pros and cons before making a decision about whether or not to buy or sell a stock that has undergone or is being talked about as considering a reverse stock split. In most cases only board of director approval is required.

Opportunity for Investors?  

The opportunities for investors after a reverse stock split depends on the reasons for the split. If the split is done to prevent delisting, it is likely that the stock price will increase in the short term. However, if the split is done for other reasons, such as to improve the stock’s image or to make it more attractive to institutional investors, the long-term impact on the stock price is uncertain. Remember, management presumably got board approval as they thought it was in the best interest of the company; as a shareholder, you are technically an owner and would reap any benefit of it turning out to be a good move.

Take Away

A reverse stock split means the number of shares owned will be reduced, but the ownership level will remain the same. The price per share will increase, but the market capitalization of the company will change little. The reverse stock split may have a negative impact on the liquidity of the stock. It may also be seen as a negative by some investors.

Overall, reverse stock splits are always conducted for with the best interest of the company onwers in mind. But the reasons for the move, and if it will be successful needs to be evaluated by stockholders.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dbgi-announces-1-for-25-reverse-stock-split-effective-august-22-2023-301905859.html

https://www.securitieslawyer101.com

AMC Converting APEs and Reverse Splitting

Posted on by phoffman@channelchek.com

AMC Theatres APE Units Will Cease to Exist After Thursday

The last day of trading for AMC Entertainment (AMC) Preferred Equity Units (APE) is Thursday, August 24th. The dividend shares that were provided 1:1 for AMC shareholders one year ago, will be converted to AMC common stock, which will then be the only class of stock AMC Entertainment has outstanding. But the company still has mounds of debt, which is part of the reason for rolling the preferreds into common shares. The move doubles the number of common shares outstanding, which the company then has plans to address.

On August 11, the wild ride shareholders had been on got a bit wilder as a Delaware Court judge gave the green light to AMC proceeding with a revised plan to convert its preferred shares. This drove up shares of APE units and down the price of AMC common stock.

Month to date, APE units, which will not be trading by the end of the week, are up nearly 15% while AMC common stock is down over 37%. Since the court notice, volume has been significantly higher in both preferred and common.

Source: Koyfin

The single AMC common share class is part of the movie theater chain’s recovery from the pandemic era debt built up. AMC is also planning a reverse 1-for-10 split of its common stock and an increase in its authorized common shares.

In Form 8-K filed with the SEC last week, AMC explained that the reverse stock split is expected to also occur on Aug. 24. The market will open on August 25th with the conversion complete, and the ticker APE delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

Expectations of the stock-conversion is that AMC will be more resilient and will eliminate capital-raising inefficiencies of APE units trading at a significant discount to AMC shares, said CEO Adam Aron.  

Analysts expect the shares to converge around the $3 price range.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

https://public.com/learn/ape-stock-amc-dividend#:~:text=%24APE%20is%20a%20new%20class,22.

https://courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/Download.aspx?id=351520