The Motley Fool·2025-09-12 07:06Core Viewpoint - The article discusses three high-profile companies that are potential candidates for forward stock splits, highlighting the trend's popularity among investors and its historical performance in relation to the S&P 500. Group 1: Stock Split Overview - A stock split is a method for publicly traded companies to adjust their share price and outstanding share count without affecting market capitalization or operating performance [2] - Forward splits are generally favored by investors as they indicate a company's strong performance, while reverse splits are often viewed negatively as they are associated with struggling businesses [4][5] Group 2: Potential Candidates for Forward Splits - Meta Platforms is identified as a prime candidate for a forward split, with approximately 28% of its shares held by retail investors and a current share price in the mid-$700s [9] - Meta's revenue is heavily reliant on advertising, with 98% coming from its social media platforms, and it boasts a significant user base of 3.48 billion daily users [10] - Goldman Sachs is another potential candidate, with nearly 31% of its shares held by non-institutional investors and a recent all-time high share price of almost $764 [15] - The company’s strong position in investment banking and M&A, along with its resilience to market fluctuations, supports the likelihood of a future split [17][18] - Netflix, having completed two forward splits in the past, has over 20% of its shares held by retail investors and a share price that recently topped $1,300 [19][20] - The introduction of an ad-supported subscription tier has significantly boosted Netflix's user base, making it a strong candidate for a forward split [22]