If You Bought 1 Share of Coca-Cola at Its IPO, Here’s How Many Shares You’d Own Now

On Wall Street, there’s usually a popular trend that grabs the interest and money of investors, and the excitement surrounding stock splits is definitely one such example.

In simpler terms, a stock split allows corporations to adjust the cost of their individual shares without affecting their total value or business operations. Particularly attractive to common investors, forward splits – which make purchasing a company’s shares less expensive – are frequently used.

For almost a century, the practice of stock splits has been ingrained in the corporate ethos of a well-known consumer goods titan like CocaCola (KO).

Coca-Cola’s stock-split history spans almost 100 years

The first sale of Coca-Cola shares to the public took place on September 5, 1919, priced at $40 each. Since then, it has experienced a single stock dividend and ten subsequent stock splits, as documented from 1927 onwards.

April 1927: 1-for-1 stock dividend
November 1935: 4-for-1 stock split
January 1960: 3-for-1
January 1965: 2-for-1
May 1968: 2-for-1
May 1977: 2-for-1
June 1986: 3-for-1
May 1990: 2-for-1
May 1992: 2-for-1
May 1996: 2-for-1
July 2012: 2-for-1

If you had hypothetically bought a single share of Coca-Cola for $40 at its initial public offering in 1919, that investment would be equivalent to owning 9,216 shares today, with each share worth approximately $639,222 – excluding any dividends. This assessment is based on the stock market close on July 15.

Coca-Cola’s competitive advantages are here to stay

The exceptional long-term success of Coca-Cola can be attributed to its global reach and outstanding marketing strategies. Its business spans nearly all countries worldwide, and it’s leveraging this diversity to drive growth through emerging markets.

Simultaneously, it leverages more than a century of tradition to attract mature consumers and relies on artificial intelligence and social media to connect with younger demographics. The remarkable marketing strategy of Coca-Cola has made its brand the most preferred one among shoppers for 12 years in a row, as indicated by Kantar’s “Brand Footprint” report.

For over six decades, Coca-Cola has consistently increased its annual dividends, making it a reliable and stable investment choice.

2025-07-19 11:42

Coca-Cola’s stock-split history spans almost 100 years

Coca-Cola’s competitive advantages are here to stay

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