Economy

Wall Street’s Latest Blockbuster Stock Split Has Arrived — and This Industry Titan Has Rallied 337,000% Over the Last 32 Years

Wall Street's Latest Blockbuster Stock Split Has Arrived -- and This Industry Titan Has Rallied 337,000% Over the Last 32 Years

Key Points

  • Excitement for high-profile stock splits has helped power the broader market higher.

  • Though there are two types of stock splits — forward and reverse — investors tend to shun the latter and gravitate to the former.

  • A game-changing partnership with Coca-Cola and mammoth market share have allowed this consumer goods goliath to dominate for decades.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Monster Beverage ›

Although the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has been Wall Street’s defining trend for the better part of the last four years, it’s not the stock market’s only upside catalyst. Stock splits being conducted by high-profile companies are generating ample buzz on Wall Street.

While several remarkable companies have completed splits this year, including AI-driven cybersecurity solutions provider CrowdStrike Holdings and online travel site Booking Holdings, none have the resume of Wall Street’s latest blockbuster stock split, Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST), which has gained a whopping 337,000% since the start of 1994.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Split type matters for investors

A stock split is an event that allows a public company to cosmetically adjust its share price and outstanding share count. These changes are superficial in that they don’t affect a company’s market cap or its operating performance.

Though stock splits only come in two varieties, investors have vastly different opinions of these corporate actions.

Reverse splits, which are designed to increase a company’s share price, are typically shunned by investors. This is the type of split struggling businesses undertake to avoid delisting from a major stock exchange.

Meanwhile, investors are attracted to companies completing forward splits, which are geared at making their shares more nominally affordable for everyday investors. If a company has to lower its share price to ensure that retail investors can participate in its growth story, it must be doing something right.

Energy drink behemoth Monster Beverage falls into the latter camp. Its board of directors announced plans to conduct a 2-for-1 forward split on July 8, with this split going into effect after the close of trading on Aug. 10. When the opening bell rings today, Aug. 11, Monster’s share price will be halved.

A seated person consuming an energy drink while playing a game on their personal computer.

Image source: Getty Images.

This Monster can’t be tamed

This isn’t Monster Beverage’s first rodeo, but rather its sixth time completing a forward split since its initial public offering. The reason it’s enacted six forward splits ties back to its indispensable partnership with Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), as well as its mammoth energy-drink market share.

In 2014, Monster and Coca-Cola announced an asset swap for the ages that’s proven highly beneficial to both parties. Coca-Cola transferred its energy drink operations to Monster and took a 16.7% stake in the company (it’s since grown to about 20%), while Monster transferred its non-energy drink operations to Coke.

Arguably, the most important aspect of this close-knit relationship has been Monster Beverage gaining access to Coca-Cola’s global distribution network. Coca-Cola has a presence in all but three countries worldwide.

Monster Beverage’s 337,000% total return over the last 32-plus years is also a reflection of its core positioning in the domestic energy drink market. Monster and Red Bull account for the bulk of U.S. energy drink market share.

The only downside for Monster is that it isn’t cheap. The company’s forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is nearly 37, representing a 16% premium to its average forward P/E ratio over the trailing five years. But with Coca-Cola in its corner and a sustainable moat in its sails, Monster Beverage’s future continues to look bright.

Should you buy stock in Monster Beverage right now?

Before you buy stock in Monster Beverage, consider this:

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Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Booking Holdings, CrowdStrike, and Monster Beverage. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.