has costco ever had a stock split? History & Timeline
Has Costco Ever Had a Stock Split? Quick answer and what you’ll learn
Yes — has costco ever had a stock split is a question with a straightforward short answer: Costco Wholesale Corporation has executed multiple corporate share actions that include forward stock splits and merger-related exchange adjustments in the 1990s and a final forward split in 2000. This article lays out the detailed chronology, explains why some data providers count different events, summarizes effects on shareholders and market capitalization, and points you to authoritative sources to verify dates and adjustment factors.
You’ll get:
- A clear summary table of the main splits and corporate actions that affected Costco common shares.
- A detailed chronology (1991, 1992, 1993 merger, 1994 adjustment, 2000 split).
- Why third-party sites report different counts and how to use official records.
- Practical steps to adjust historical prices and verify ex-dates.
As of 2026-01-23, according to Costco’s investor communications and major market-data providers, the core forward splits to know are the 1991 2-for-1, the 1992 3-for-2, and the 2000 2-for-1 (with the 1993 Price/PriceCostco merger and a 1994 corporate entry affecting some records). Read on for full context and authoritative verification guidance.
Summary of Costco’s stock-split history
Short summary (main forward splits and notable corporate items that affect share counts):
- 1991 — 2-for-1 split (effective May 15, 1991) — forward split of Costco common stock.
- 1992 — 3-for-2 split (effective March 6, 1992) — forward split increasing shares by 1.5x.
- 1993 — Merger with The Price Company / Price Club (formation of PriceCostco) — exchange ratios and predecessor-company adjustments mean some services record additional adjustments.
- 1994 — Company records show a corporate adjustment/entry on December 20, 1994 (often presented as a spin-off or transfer-event in investor materials); this entry explains why some aggregators include an extra corporate action.
- 2000 — 2-for-1 split (effective January 13–14, 2000) — the last forward split applied to Costco common shares to date.
Cumulative forward-split factor (counting only the straightforward forward splits applied to Costco common shares): 2 × 1.5 × 2 = 6. In practice, cumulative adjustments reported by some vendors differ if they include merger exchange adjustments or predecessor-company splits.
Note: The precise count of “splits” can vary across data providers depending on whether they include merger exchange ratios, predecessor-company (Price Club/Price) splits, or the company-recorded 1994 corporate entry. For authoritative dates and official descriptions of each corporate action, rely on Costco’s investor relations records and transfer-agent documentation.
Detailed chronology of corporate actions and splits
1991 — 2-for-1 split (May 15, 1991)
The first clear forward split recorded for Costco common stock is a 2-for-1 split effective May 15, 1991. This split doubled the number of outstanding common shares and halved the per-share price, leaving each shareholder with the same percentage ownership in the company. The move occurred as Costco expanded rapidly in its early years and matched typical practices for high-growth retail companies seeking broader price accessibility and increased trading liquidity.
Why it matters:
- The 1991 2-for-1 split is recorded in investor materials as an explicit corporate action affecting Costco common shares.
- Historical price series used for analysis and backtests require an adjustment by a factor of 2 for dates prior to May 15, 1991.
1992 — 3-for-2 split (March 6, 1992)
Costco followed with a 3-for-2 split effective March 6, 1992. A 3-for-2 ratio increases shares outstanding by 50% (multiply by 1.5) and reduces the per-share market price accordingly. This split took place during a period of fast expansion for the warehouse-retail sector and for Costco specifically.
Practical effect:
- For share-count or historical-price adjustments, multiply post-1992 share counts by 1.5 for pre-March-6, 1992 prices (after accounting for the earlier 1991 2-for-1).
- When counting splits strictly as forward splits on Costco common stock, the 1992 event is a clear, standalone split.
1993 — Merger with The Price Company / formation of PriceCostco (context and exchange ratios)
In 1993, Costco and The Price Company (Price Club) underwent corporate realignments that resulted in merged entities — often recorded in company histories as PriceCostco or similar names. The 1993 actions involved stock exchanges and restructuring that affected shareholders of predecessor companies. Some third-party data services treat these merger exchange ratios or predecessor-company split history as additional split-like adjustments when reconstructing historical share counts or price series.
Key points to understand:
- The 1993 merger was not a simple forward split of Costco common stock; rather, it involved exchange ratios between different corporate entities.
- If you trace only Costco’s common-share forward splits, some providers will show fewer events; if they include predecessor-company splits and exchange adjustments, the count rises.
- For tax reporting or precise ownership calculations, use the company’s transfer-agent records and investor-relations disclosures for the exact exchange ratios used in the merger.
1994 — Corporate-recorded adjustment (December 20, 1994)
Company records show a corporate entry on December 20, 1994 that is sometimes labeled as a spin-off or an internal corporate adjustment. Investor materials include this event in the corporate-action chronology, and some data aggregators include it as a distinct adjustment when reconstructing historical prices or share counts.
Why this creates variation in reported counts:
- Some services include the 1994 entry as a split-like event or adjustment; others ignore it for split counts because it was recorded as a corporate transfer or internal restructuring rather than a forward split of Costco common shares.
- Consult official Costco documentation to understand how the company characterizes the event and whether it required adjustments to share holdings.
2000 — 2-for-1 split (January 13–14, 2000)
The last forward split applied to Costco common stock took place in January 2000 as a 2-for-1 split (effective dates recorded across January 13–14, 2000, per corporate records). This is the most recent forward split for Costco common shares to date.
Consequences:
- For long-term historical price series and share-count adjustments, include the 2000 2-for-1 when reconstructing pre-2000 data.
- After the 2000 split, Costco has not executed any additional forward splits of its common stock (see the post-2000 section below for why).
How third-party sources and predecessor-company actions affect reported counts
Different data providers can report different numbers of splits for Costco because of how they treat nonstandard corporate events:
- Some vendors list only forward splits explicitly labeled as splits for Costco common stock (1991, 1992, 2000). That yields a count of three forward splits.
- Other services include merger exchange adjustments tied to the 1993 Price/PriceCostco transactions or predecessor-company split history, which can raise the apparent count of split-like events.
- A 1994 corporate entry listed in Costco records is treated as a corporate action by some aggregators and ignored by others.
Recommendation:
- For authoritative records of ex-dates, ratios, and corporate descriptions, use Costco’s official investor relations pages and transfer-agent documents.
- If you need adjusted historical prices for research or backtesting, choose a reputable data vendor but confirm their treatment of the 1993–1994 events. Where accuracy matters for legal, tax, or precise share-count purposes, rely on company filings and transfer-agent confirmations.
As of 2026-01-23, investor.costco.com remains the primary source for official historical corporate-action entries and dividend history.
Effect of the splits on shareholders and market capitalization
Mechanics:
- Forward stock splits increase the number of outstanding shares and reduce the per-share price proportionally so that total market capitalization (shares × price) remains unchanged immediately after the split. Shareholders’ percentage ownership of the company is preserved.
Practical investor effects:
- Liquidity: Splits can increase the number of tradable shares and sometimes improve liquidity.
- Accessibility: Lower nominal share price can make a stock feel more affordable to retail investors.
- No direct change to fundamentals: Splits do not change the company’s revenues, earnings, or balance-sheet fundamentals.
Market-perception effects:
- Psychological: Investors sometimes perceive a split as a sign of management confidence or strong prior share-price performance.
- Trading flows: Media and analyst speculation around potential splits can generate trading activity, but splits themselves are not value-creating events in the fundamental sense.
Post-2000 period — no further splits and company stance
Costco has not announced or executed any further forward splits of its common stock since the 2-for-1 split in January 2000. Several practical and structural factors commonly cited to explain the absence of additional splits include:
- High institutional ownership and investor base: Large institutional holders and long-term shareholders may prefer share-price stability over frequent nominal adjustments.
- Fractional-share services: Modern brokerages often support fractional-share trading, reducing the nominal accessibility argument for splits.
- Management preference: Some management teams prefer buybacks, dividends, or capital-allocation choices over retail-oriented splits.
As of 2026-01-23, media and analyst outlets occasionally discuss whether Costco could split again, particularly if the share price reaches new highs, but no official split announcement has been made by the company. For the latest stance, always check Costco’s investor relations releases and proxy materials.
Related corporate actions — dividends, special dividends, and share repurchases
Costco historically has a record of dividends and periodic special dividends, in addition to its long-term capital-allocation strategy.
- Dividends: Costco has paid regular dividends in recent years. For exact dividend dates and per-share amounts, consult Costco’s dividend history on the investor relations site.
- Special dividends: From time to time, Costco has paid special dividends; these are reported separately from routine dividends and noted in official releases.
- Share repurchases: Costco has implemented buyback programs at times as part of capital allocation; buybacks reduce shares outstanding and can be an alternative to splits when management wants to return value to shareholders.
Management choices between splits, dividends, and buybacks depend on corporate strategy, tax considerations, and investor-base preferences. For precise program sizes, dates, and completion percentages, refer to official filings and investor updates.
How to verify historical splits and adjust historical prices
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Start with Costco’s official investor relations site and transfer-agent materials. These are the authoritative records for ex-dates, ratios, and the company’s description of each corporate action.
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Use reputable data vendors for adjusted price series but confirm their treatment of the 1993 merger and the 1994 corporate entry. Examples of widely used data aggregators include MacroTrends and Stocksplithistory; always cross-check against company materials for legal and tax accuracy.
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When adjusting historical prices yourself:
- Apply split factors in chronological order from oldest to newest.
- For simple forward splits: multiply pre-split share counts (or divide prices) by the split ratio factor.
- If a vendor includes merger-exchange adjustments, read their notes to understand how they arrived at cumulative factors.
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For legal or tax reporting that requires precise share histories, request documentation from the company transfer agent and retain the investor-relations press release or SEC filing that describes the corporate action.
As of 2026-01-23, official investor.costco.com pages and SEC filings are the recommended primary sources for exact ex-dates and official corporate descriptions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: When was the last Costco stock split? A: The most recent forward split of Costco common stock was a 2-for-1 split in January 2000.
Q: How many splits has Costco had? A: It depends on how you count corporate events. Company records show primary forward splits in 1991 (2-for-1), 1992 (3-for-2), and 2000 (2-for-1). If merger exchange ratios and the 1994 corporate entry are included, some data providers list additional adjustments.
Q: Do splits change my ownership? A: No. Forward splits increase share counts and reduce per-share prices proportionally; your percentage ownership and the total market value of your holdings remain the same immediately after a split.
Q: Where can I verify split dates and ratios? A: Use Costco’s official investor-relations pages (stock information, corporate actions, and dividend history) and transfer-agent records for authoritative dates and ratios.
Practical example: Adjusting historical prices across Costco’s splits
If you want to reconstruct a continuous historical price series for Costco using only the clear forward splits on Costco common stock, apply these multiplicative adjustments for dates prior to each split (oldest first):
- Before May 15, 1991: apply 2× (for the 1991 2-for-1).
- Before March 6, 1992: apply 1.5× (for the 1992 3-for-2).
- Before January 13, 2000: apply 2× (for the 2000 2-for-1).
Cumulative adjustment factor for pre-1991 prices (counting only these three forward splits) = 2 × 1.5 × 2 = 6. This means a pre-1991 per-share price should be divided by 6 to compare directly with post-2000 per-share prices on a split-adjusted basis.
If you use a vendor that includes merger or 1994 adjustments, consult their notes to determine the resulting cumulative factor.
Market context and quantifiable indicators (as of 2026-01-23)
- Market capitalization: As of 2026-01-23, major market-data providers report Costco’s market capitalization as comfortably above $200 billion; check official market-data pages for the latest exact figure.
- Average daily volume: On recent sessions, Costco’s average daily trading volume has typically been in the hundreds of thousands to low millions of shares; for exact 30- or 90-day averages consult real-time market-data services.
As with split history, always verify exact numeric market-data figures with current provider feeds or the exchange’s official quote pages when precision is required.
Why counts differ across sources — short checklist for researchers
- Did the source include Price/PriceCostco merger exchange ratios? (Some do.)
- Did the source count the 1994 corporate entry as a split-like adjustment? (Some do.)
- Is the vendor presenting splits for predecessor companies alongside Costco? (This inflates counts if not labeled clearly.)
- Does the vendor list cumulative adjustment factors and explain their methodology? (Prefer vendors with transparent notes.)
If you need a single authoritative record, use Costco’s investor relations and transfer-agent documentation.
References and sources
Reported items and background in this article reference the following primary and secondary sources. For legal, tax, or audit-quality records, consult Costco’s official releases and transfer-agent files.
- Costco investor relations — dividend history, corporate actions, and investor FAQs. (As of 2026-01-23, consult the corporate investor pages for primary records.)
- Stocksplithistory.com — compilation of publicly reported split events for COST.
- MacroTrends — historical split tables and adjusted-price series for COST.
- CompaniesMarketCap — stock-split history entries for COST.
- CheddarFlow and thematic market write-ups discussing Costco’s split history and market commentary.
- Nasdaq market commentary and articles discussing historical splits and whether Costco is often cited as a possible split candidate.
As of 2026-01-23, these sources provide corroborating views; for the final word on dates and legal descriptions, use Costco’s official documents.
Practical next steps and how Bitget can help
If you’re tracking historical share adjustments, preparing educational content, or managing a portfolio, start your verification at Costco’s investor-relations pages and the company transfer agent. For trading or custody services, consider Bitget as a platform for equities-related crypto-onramp services, and use Bitget Wallet for secure custody of blockchain assets. Explore Bitget to learn about features that may help you manage asset access and fractional exposure.
Further exploration options:
- I can produce a compact timeline table with exact dates and ratios sourced to Costco’s investor pages.
- I can generate a downloadable split-adjustment schedule (CSV-style) to help you adjust historical prices.
If you’d like either, tell me which format you prefer and I’ll prepare it.
Closing note — verifying for precision
For precise share-count adjustments, tax reporting, or auditing, do not rely solely on aggregated web tables. Instead, request transfer-agent documentation or rely on Costco’s investor-relations press releases and SEC filings for authoritative descriptions and exact ex-dates. If you want, I can draft a checklist of the exact filings to request and sample language to use when contacting a transfer agent.
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