Two ways companies use to compensate shareholders without issuing any monetary amount are through a bonus issue and stock split. These two still have the effect of increasing the number of shares held by a shareholder, but they work on different principles with different purposes. Knowledge of such concepts will enable the investor to appreciate how companies manage shareholder value and market liquidity.
What is bonus issue definition? A bonus issue occurs when free additional shares are issued to existing shareholders on a pro-rata basis of their present holdings. On the other hand, a stock split divides a share into smaller units such that a fixed number becomes many, while the price per share becomes lower. Both have different effects on the share prices and investor perception, which we will discuss in this blog.
What is a Bonus Issue Definition?
Bonus issue or bonus shares is a corporate action wherein a firm issues more stocks for the shareholders without any cost simply based on the shareholder's existing holding. For example, in a 2:1 bonus issue, shareholders receive two additional shares for each share owned.
Bonus results from the business company's undisposed reserves or profit, converting retained earnings to share capital. The result is an increase in the total number of shares in the company but does not impact its overall market capitalization.
Bonus issues are held to be indicative of financial strength because they are usually issued by companies that are relatively very profitable. They increase the liquidity of shares, thereby drawing more retail investors. The price of a share typically falls in an unproportionate measure towards the bonus ratio, so nobody's total holding value gets affected by this action.
What is a Stock Split Definition?
Stock split refers to the act of dividing one existing share into many smaller shares. For example, in a 2:1 stock split, one face value is split into two. This means the total number of shares is doubled. In terms of face value, this reduces the same amount, keeping the total market capitalization of the company equal.
Stock splits are generally made to make the stock more liquid by lowering its price to retail investors. For instance, if a stock is trading at a price of ₹1,000, the 2:1 split will bring down the price of shares to ₹500 per share.
The ownership and voting rights of the shareholders do not change, as the proportion of shares owned remains the same; however, stock splits are used by companies to increase trading activity and enlarge the shareholder base without actually changing the value of a business.
Bonus Issue vs Stock Split: What Happens to the Share Price?
Aspect
| Bonus Issue
| Stock Split
|
Definition
| Free additional shares issued to existing shareholders.
| Existing shares divided into smaller shares.
|
Share Price Impact
| Share price drops proportionally to the bonus ratio.
| Share price drops based on the split ratio.
|
Face Value
| Remains unchanged.
| Reduced proportionally to the split ratio.
|
Market Capitalization
| Remains unchanged.
| Remains unchanged.
|
Purpose
| Reward shareholders using retained earnings.
| Increase stock affordability and liquidity.
|
Share Split vs Bonus Issue: What Does it Mean for You?
Aspect
| Bonus Issue
| Stock Split
|
Impact on Shareholder Value
| Increases the number of shares held without changing total investment value. For example, in a 1:1 bonus issue, an investor with 10 shares at ₹100 each will own 20 shares at ₹50 each.
| Divides each share into smaller parts (e.g., 2:1 split halves the price per share), making shares more affordable. Total value remains unchanged.
|
Implications for Trading Account
| Extra shares are automatically credited to the shareholder’s trading account, reflecting the updated quantity and reduced price per share.
| Adjusted share count and reduced price per share are updated in the trading account post-split.
|
Long-Term Impact
| Signals strong financial reserves and profitability, boosting investor confidence and attracting long-term investors.
| Improves affordability and liquidity, encouraging broader participation from retail investors and increasing trading activity over time.
|
Tax Implications
| No immediate tax implications at issuance, but capital gains tax applies when these shares are sold.
| No immediate tax implications. Tax is applicable only upon the sale of the shares, similar to bonus issues.
|
What is the Company's Rationale?
The rationale behind a company opting for a bonus issue or a stock split often stems from its goals related to shareholder rewards, liquidity, and market positioning. Both actions serve different purposes, and companies decide based on their financial health and strategic priorities.
Rationale for Bonus Issues
Rewarding Shareholders:
Bonus issues are a way of thanking loyal shareholders without direct cash outflow. Free additional shares issued by companies increase the equity holding of investors, as a token of appreciation for holding their stocks.
Building Investor Confidence:
A bonus issue often signals financial stability and profitability. It indicates that the company has enough reserves to convert into equity, which reassures shareholders of the company's strong position.
Market Perception Enhancement:
Bonus issues are considered a sound practice, particularly in industries where consistent rewards for shareholders mean much. It also enhances the company's prestige and welcomes long-term investors.
Accessibility of Shares:
By increasing the number of shares and decreasing the price per share proportionately, bonus issues make stocks appear cheaper to the retail investor while the total value remains unchanged.
Earnings Retention in the enterprise:
Bonus shares do not require cash payments, allowing companies to retain profits for business expansion while rewarding shareholders in equity form.
Arguments For Stock Splits
Improving Liquidity:
High priced stocks discourage most retail investors. A stock split brings the share price down, making the stock accessible to the participation of the smaller investors, which increases trading activity and could even lead to higher liquidity.
Diversity in the Investor Base:
A lower stock price post-split allows more retail investors to buy shares, effectively broadening the company's investor pool. This can help the stock attract more trading volume and attention.
Stabilizing stock price at market perception:
Stocks with high prices may cause an impression of overvaluation in some industries. A stock split adjusts the price to the current market expectation, therefore removing psychological obstacles from the entity's acquisition pathway.
Beating Market Trends:
However, stock splits can keep or enhance market interest. A lower share price tends to increase demand and may stabilize or boost the stock's market value in the long run.
Encouraging Institutional Investments:
Some institutional investors have the restriction of price that would get accepted in portfolios. Companies split shares to keep their stock in an acceptable range for such large investors.
Comparison
While both bonus issues and stock splits aim at improving shareholder satisfaction and market participation, their purposes are different:
Bonus Issue: Focused on rewarding shareholders and signaling financial health.
Stock Split: Primarily aimed at increasing stock affordability and liquidity.
Both approaches reflect the commitment of the business to shareholder interests and longer-term engagement in the market. Investors can gain important information about a strategy and growth potential based on these rationales.
Conclusion
Both bonus issues and stock splits can be extremely useful tools for dealing with shareholder expectations, making stocks more liquid, and signaling financial stability; however, while the reverse bonus benefits shareholders by increasing the number of shares they have, the stock split increase enhances stock purchasing power, thus attracting a larger investor base. A detailed information on bonus issue versus a stock split will help investors understand corporate actions better and their implications for assessment of investment strategies. If they are well informed, shareholders will make better decisions concerning their portfolios.