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Video: What is a Stock Split?
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Merck & Co. is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products. Co.'s segments are: Pharmaceutical, which includes human health pharmaceutical products that consist of therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders, and human health vaccine products that consist of preventive pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines; and Animal Health, which discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services, as well as a suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. According to our MRK split history records, Merck and has had 5 splits. | |
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Merck and (MRK) has 5 splits in our MRK split history database. The first split for MRK took place on June 01, 1972. This was a 2 for 1
split, meaning for each share of MRK owned pre-split, the shareholder now owned 2 shares. For example, a 1000 share position pre-split, became a 2000 share position following the split. MRK's second split took place on May 27, 1986. This was a 2 for 1
split, meaning for each share of MRK owned pre-split, the shareholder now owned 2 shares. For example, a 2000 share position pre-split, became a 4000 share position following the split. MRK's third split took place on May 26, 1988. This was a 3 for 1
split, meaning for each share of MRK owned pre-split, the shareholder now owned 3 shares. For example, a 4000 share position pre-split, became a 12000 share position following the split. MRK's 4th split took place on May 26, 1992. This was a 3 for 1
split, meaning for each share of MRK owned pre-split, the shareholder now owned 3 shares. For example, a 12000 share position pre-split, became a 36000 share position following the split. MRK's 5th split took place on February 17, 1999. This was a 2 for 1
split, meaning for each share of MRK owned pre-split, the shareholder now owned 2 shares. For example, a 36000 share position pre-split, became a 72000 share position following the split.
When a company such as Merck and splits its shares, the market capitalization before and after the split takes place remains stable, meaning the shareholder now owns more shares but each are valued at a lower price per share. Often, however, a lower priced stock on a per-share basis can attract a wider range of buyers. If that increased demand causes the share price to appreciate, then the total market capitalization rises post-split. This does not always happen, however, often depending on the underlying fundamentals of the business.
Looking at the MRK split history from start to finish, an original position size of 1000 shares would have turned into 72000 today. Below, we examine the compound annual growth rate — CAGR for short — of an investment into Merck and shares, starting with a $10,000 purchase of MRK, presented on a split-history-adjusted basis factoring in the complete MRK split history.

Growth of $10,000.00
With Dividends Reinvested
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Start date: |
02/25/2011 |
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End date: |
02/24/2021 |
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Start price/share: |
$32.19 |
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End price/share: |
$74.57 |
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Starting shares: |
310.66 |
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Ending shares: |
435.25 |
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Dividends reinvested/share: |
$19.03 |
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Total return: |
224.57% |
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Average Annual Total Return: |
12.49% |
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Starting investment: |
$10,000.00 |
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Ending investment: |
$32,465.29 |
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Years: |
10.01 |
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Growth of $10,000.00
Without Dividends Reinvested
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Start date: |
02/25/2011 |
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End date: |
02/24/2021 |
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Start price/share: |
$32.19 |
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End price/share: |
$74.57 |
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Dividends collected/share: |
$19.03 |
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Total return: |
190.77% |
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Average Annual Total Return: |
11.26% |
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Starting investment: |
$10,000.00 |
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Ending investment: |
$29,083.35 |
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Years: |
10.01 |
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Date |
Ratio |
06/01/1972 | 2 for 1
| 05/27/1986 | 2 for 1
| 05/26/1988 | 3 for 1
| 05/26/1992 | 3 for 1
| 02/17/1999 | 2 for 1
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