The Premise: A Curious Case of Split Timing Imagine this: every time JPMorgan Chase announced a stock split, you—our hypothetical savvy investor—snapped up exactly 100 shares. No questions asked. No market timing. Just a simple rule: “If they split, I buy.” Sounds like a quirky strategy, right? But what would that actually look like over time? JPM Stock Split: A Brief History of Multiplying Shares The Four Key Splits JPMorgan Chase has had four major stock splits since 1982: April 16, 1982 – 3-for-2 split April 16, 1984 – 3-for-2 split June 15, 1998 – 2-for-1 split June 12, 2000 – 3-for-2 split Let’s say you bought 100 shares just before each of these splits. Here’s how your shares would have multiplied: Data source: MarketCapWatch So by 2000, you’d be holding 650 shares, all from four well-timed purchases of 100 shares each. What’s That Worth in 2025? As of June 2025, JPMorgan stock is trading around $284 per share. Multiply that by your 650 shares, and you’re sitting on a cool $184,600. And your total cost basis? Let’s assume you bought at the average closing prices before each split: 1982: ~$1.91 1984: ~$2.42 1998: ~$22.32 2000: ~$22.53 That’s a total investment of $4,918. Which means your return is roughly 3,653%—not including dividends. The One That Got Away Now here’s the kicker: JPM hasn’t split its stock since 2000. That’s 25 years of silence on the split front. If you were waiting for another split to trigger your next 100-share buy, well… you’ve been ghosted. Meanwhile, the stock has climbed from ~$22 to over $280. Ouch. Lessons from a Lazy Genius This little thought experiment isn’t about perfect timing—it’s about consistency. Buying before splits isn’t a magic formula, but it often coincides with periods of strong performance and investor confidence. And while JPM hasn’t split in decades, its dividends, earnings, and market cap have continued to grow. Sometimes, the best move isn’t chasing the next split—it’s holding on to what you’ve got. Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for the Bell to Ring If you’re still waiting for JPM to split again before jumping in, you might be waiting another 25 years. Meanwhile, the stock’s been quietly compounding like a pro. So maybe the real takeaway is this: don’t let a stock split be your only reason to invest—but don’t ignore the story it tells either.
