Stock-Split Watch: Is Advanced Micro Devices Next?

Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) has been a top performer in the semiconductor industry over the last decade. The fabless chip stock has grabbed market share from Intel PCs and is now competing in the data center AI graphics processing unit (GPU) market, though Nvidia remains the dominant force in that industry. It's also known for its strength in gaming chips.

AMD has grown over the years both organically and through acquisitions like Xilinx, a $50 billion deal that set an industry record. Xilinx is primarily focused on embedded chips that power appliances, consumer electronics, and complex machinery in industries like automotive, aerospace, and defense.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. See the 10 stocks »

AMD has split its stock in the past, but it hasn't done so since 2000.

AMD's stock split history

The chart below shows that the company has had six stock splits in its history.

Source: AMD.

As you can see, most of AMD's stock splits are ancient history at this point. They occurred shortly after the company went public in 1972 and was growing quickly. The last one occurred toward the end of the dot-com era in 2000.

Following the dot-com bust, AMD struggled for several years before it started to find success in the mid-2010s under CEO Lisa Su. It converted itself into a fabless chip company in 2009, when it spun off GlobalFoundries and, under Su, focused on high-performance computing applications, capitalizing on the emergence of areas like cloud computing, data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and gaming.

Over the last decade, the stock has soared under Su's leadership, up nearly 5,000% and overtaking rival Intel in market cap. However, 2024 was a rough year for the stock as high hopes for its AI chips haven't been met by sales from the new MI300 accelerator, and growth in the rest of the business has been moderate. It has yet to capitalize on the AI boom the way some of its peers have.

Will a stock split help AMD?

Before we discuss the chances of an AMD stock split, investors should have a full understanding of the implications of a stock split.

A stock split doesn't do anything to change the fundamentals of a stock or the business. It simply makes a proportionate change in the share count and price, like cutting a pie into more pieces. Individual investors still own the same percentage of the company as they did before.

However, investors still cheer stock splits as they generally reflect management's confidence in the business's future growth. There's also some evidence that stocks tend to outperform the S&P 500 in the 12 months after the stock split. It's not fully clear why, but it could be the strength of the business coming into the split and the investor response to the news creating a self-fulfilling cycle.

Image source: Getty Images.

Will AMD split its stock?

After peers like Nvidia, Broadcom, and Super Micro Computer split their stocks, investors may be wondering whether AMD is next. AMD's current share price is only around $120, which would be low for a company to split its stock. The three stocks above were all trading above $1,000 per share at one point last year before they announced a stock split.

AMD stock is also looking weak following last year's slide. A stock split at some point in the future is possible, but it's unlikely in the near term, given the stock's recent struggles and relatively average share price.

Its stock split prospects could change if the business's growth accelerates and the stock takes off. However, investors shouldn't expect a stock split anytime soon.

Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity

Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.

On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:

• Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $369,816!*
• Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $42,191!*
• Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $527,206!*

Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.

Learn more »

*Stock Advisor returns as of January 27, 2025

Jeremy Bowman has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, Nvidia, and Super Micro Computer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: short February 2025 $27 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.