
Exxon has a long history of stock splits, with the first one occurring in 1949. This split, which occurred on May 27, 1949, was a 2-for-1 split, doubling the number of shares outstanding.
Exxon has since split its stock multiple times, with the most recent split occurring in 2020. This 3-for-2 split increased the number of shares outstanding by 50%.
The frequency and magnitude of Exxon's stock splits have varied over the years, but they have always had a positive impact on the company's stock price.
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Exxon Mobil History
Exxon Mobil has a long history of stock splits, with the first one occurring on June 12th, 1951, when the company was still known as Standard Oil. This was a 2-for-1 stock split.
The company went on to have another stock split just five years later, this time at a 3-for-1 ratio on February 10th, 1956. This was a significant event in the company's history.
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Exxon Mobil has always conducted a stock split when it believes that its stock price gets too high for average investors to afford. This was the case in 1976, when the company decided to hold a 2-for-1 stock split.
Here are the details of all the stock splits in Exxon Mobil's history:
The power of stock splits is not seen right away, but they can have a significant impact on the company's stock price over time.
Stock Split Information
ExxonMobil has a history of conducting stock splits when its stock price reaches a certain threshold. The company's stock splits have typically occurred when the price has climbed above the $100 mark, such as in 1976 and 1987.
Exxon's stock splits have been guided by a pattern that many other stock market giants have followed. This pattern involves splitting the stock when it reaches a certain price point, often between $80 and $100.
A two-for-one stock split is the most common ratio used by ExxonMobil, as seen in the majority of its stock splits since 1951. If ExxonMobil were to announce a two-for-one stock split, the number of outstanding shares would double, from 4.2 billion to 8.4 billion.
For more insights, see: When Do Stock Splits Occur
Exxon Share Split in 2017?
The public never knows when a company will announce a stock split, making Exxon Mobil stock split predictions for 2017 tough. However, you can always still use the past to make an educated guess.
Exxon Mobil's past four stock splits have occurred when the trading price was within $80.00 to $100.00. This suggests a high possibility of a stock split happening within this trading price once again.
Over the past 52 weeks, XOM stock has been trading between $78.00 and $93.00, which is in the sweet spot of its stock split history. This makes a stock split in 2017 quite possible.
If a two-for-one stock split were to occur, the number of outstanding shares would double from 4.2 billion to 8.4 billion. Your share ownership would also double, but you would still own the same percentage of the company.
Exxon Mobil conducted its first 2-for-1 stock split on June 12th, 1951, and has had a total of seven stock splits in its history. The company has always conducted a stock split when it believes that its stock price gets too high for average investors to afford.
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Price
The share price of a stock will drop after a stock split, but don't worry, you won't lose any capital.
For example, if a stock like XOM is currently at $80.00, it will be cut in half to $40.00 after a two-for-one stock split.
The total value of your investment remains the same, even though the number of shares doubles.
If you owned 100 shares before the split, you'd have a total investment value of $8,000 based on the $80.00 price.
After the split, the value is the same, because the number of shares doubles to 200, but they're now only worth $40.00.
Check this out: What Are Stock Shares
How Split Affects XOM
A stock split can have a significant impact on a company's shares, but it doesn't change the company's market cap. The number of shares outstanding and stock price do change, however.
The market cap remains the same before and after a stock split. For example, ExxonMobil's market cap was $5.0 billion before a split and it would still be $5.0 billion after.

The number of shares outstanding increases, while the stock price decreases. Let's take a look at how this played out in ExxonMobil's history.
This table shows the impact of each stock split on the number of shares outstanding.
Why Companies Issue Shares
Companies issue shares to raise capital for various purposes, such as expanding their business or repaying debts.
A company might issue shares to increase its market value and make its stock more attractive to investors.
Issuing shares can also be a way for companies to reward their employees and executives with stock options.
Some companies issue shares to fund new projects or ventures, which can lead to increased revenue and growth.
Companies can use the funds raised from issuing shares to pay off debts and improve their financial stability.
If this caught your attention, see: Why Do Companies Do Stock Splits
ExxonMobil's Future
ExxonMobil's market cap is over $350 billion, making it difficult to think about future stock splits.
The company's market cap is so large that doubling in size repeatedly becomes more challenging each time.
ExxonMobil didn't move forward with a stock split in 2014, which is a concerning sign for split proponents.
It's possible that ExxonMobil has changed its thinking and is now comfortable with triple-digit share prices.
The company's financials could change if oil prices rebound dramatically, potentially leading to a stock split.
However, it's also possible that we've already seen the last ExxonMobil stock split.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are stock splits good for shareholders?
Stock splits don't change a company's total value, but they can make shares more affordable for investors. This can potentially increase trading activity and interest in the stock, benefiting shareholders in the long run.
Sources
- https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/XOM/exxon/stock-splits
- https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/delisted/XOM/Exxon%20Mobil/stock-splits
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/04/exxon-mobil-stock-split-will-the-oil-giant-ever-sp.aspx
- https://www.incomeinvestors.com/exxon-mobil-nysexom-stock-split-history/27599/
- https://optionstradingiq.com/exxon-stock-split-history/
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