On July 2, 1962, Sam Walton opened his first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the 16,000-square-foot space was stocked with thousands of American-made products at “Always Low Prices.” This included home goods, clothing, gardening tools, and toiletries: A tube of Gleem toothpaste, for instance, cost 53 cents.
A hit from the very beginning, Walmart had expanded to 38 stores by 1970, the year it went public. Just one year later, in May 1971, the company announced its first 2-for-1 stock split — a reflection of its rapid growth, rising share price, and management’s commitment to keeping shares accessible to everyday investors, just like its low-priced merchandise.
In fact, the company has split its stock 12 times since going public. Along the way, as Walmart continued to grow, it became an early adopter of technology that helped it track inventory by computer, expand into international markets, and ultimately surpass competitors like Kmart and Sears.
More than five decades later, that same willingness to embrace new technology — now in the form of artificial intelligence — continues to shape Walmart’s business. AI is helping the world’s largest retailer improve everything from inventory management to customer service, while also expanding its razor-thin margins.
The company has also continued splitting its stock. Here’s a closer look at Walmart’s most recent split, stock split history, and whether another one could be on the horizon.
Walmart stock split quick facts
- Number of splits: 12
- Most recent split: Feb. 22, 2024 (3:1)
- First split: May 19, 1971 (2:1)
- Decade with the most splits: 1980s
- Most common split ratio: 2:1
When was Walmart’s last stock split?
Walmart announced its latest stock split on January 30, 2024. According to its press release, the company split shares 3-to-1 for the benefit of the 400,000 store associates who participate in Walmart’s Associate Stock Purchase Plan.
“Sam Walton believed it was important to keep our share price in a range where purchasing whole shares, rather than fractions, was accessible to all of our associates,” said Doug McMillon, the then-President and CEO of Walmart. “Given our growth and our plans for the future, we felt it was a good time to split the stock and encourage our associates to participate in the years to come. As Sam said, ‘We’re all in this together. That’s the secret.’”
Shareholders of record as of February 22, 2024, received two additional shares of Walmart stock for each share they previously held. Shortly after the split, Walmart also announced that it would raise its dividend by 9%, its largest increase in over a decade.
Related: Does Walmart pay dividends? Its yield and payouts explained
How many times has Walmart split its stock?
The big box retailer has split its shares 12 times in total — three times in the 1970s, five in the 80s, two in the 90s, and one in the 2020s.
Walmart’s stock splits
Feb. 2024
2/22/24
3:1
March 1999
3/19/99
2:1
Feb. 1993
2/2/93
2:1
June 1990
6/15/90
2:1
June 1987
6/19/87
2:1
Sept. 1985
9/3/85
2:1
June 1983
6/20/83
2:1
June 1982
6/21/82
2:1
Nov. 1980
11/25/80
2:1
August 1975
8/19/75
2:1
March 1972
3/22/72
2:1
May 1971
5/19/71
2:1
Source: Walmart
What would Walmart’s stock be worth if it had never split?
Because Walmart has split its stock 12 times since it went public, an investor who purchased a share of the company’s stock on the day of its IPO would now hold 6,144 shares. At a July 22, 2026, closing price of around $108 per share, one original WMT share from October 1970 would be worth approximately $663,552.
Related: How many employees does Walmart have in 2026? Its workforce, locations & layoffs explained
Is Walmart going to split its stock again?
Walmart has not announced any plans for a future stock split; however, if the past is any guide, it could split shares again when its share price climbs to a level considered “inaccessible” for its store associates.
More on stock splits:
- Nvidia’s stock split history: Everything you need to know
- IBM’s stock split history: Why Big Blue stopped splitting shares
- Home Depot’s stock split history: What you need to know
Around the time of its 2024 split, shares were trading in the $175 range — that level could offer investors a useful benchmark should the company’s continued earnings growth push the stock higher.