5 Stock Splits That Could Happen in 2026

Motley Fool highlights five large-cap stocks that could announce splits in 2026—Microsoft, MercadoLibre, Goldman Sachs, Caterpillar and Costco—observing that splits remain a tool to lower per-share prices for compensation and broader investor access even as fractional shares have reduced their frequency. Microsoft (sub-$500) is cited as a likely candidate given its AI-driven rally and OpenAI exposure, MercadoLibre (around $2,000) could split if it rebounds despite never having done so, and Goldman (~$850) and Caterpillar (~$600) face additional pressure from the Dow Jones’ price-weighting that makes them outsized components; Costco (~$900), last split in 2000, could pursue a split to facilitate Dow inclusion. The piece notes splits often trigger a one-time share-price pop but do not change fundamentals, so any split should be treated as a tactical catalyst rather than a standalone investment thesis.

Analysis

Motley Fool identifies five large-cap candidates for potential stock splits in 2026: Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT, just under $500), MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI, ~ $2,000), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS, ~ $850), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT, ~ $600) and Costco (NASDAQ: COST, ~ $900). The note emphasizes that splits have become less frequent due to fractional-share availability, but remain a tool to lower per‑share prices for compensation and broaden investor access; historically splits often produce a one‑time price pop rather than fundamental change.

Microsoft is singled out for split speculation tied to its AI-led rally, cloud demand and OpenAI investment — Microsoft last split in 2003 and an OpenAI IPO would represent an additional catalyst. MercadoLibre, which has never split and had a sluggish 2025, is portrayed as a rebound candidate; Goldman and Caterpillar face unique Dow Jones index dynamics because the Dow is price‑weighted, with Goldman ~11% and Caterpillar ~8% of the index, creating either incentive to retain high share price or pressure to split.

Sentiment on these scenarios is mildly positive but speculative and market‑impact scores are low (0.25), underscoring that any split is primarily a tactical catalyst. Investors should treat split announcements as short‑term events, focus on underlying fundamentals and account for disclosed conflicts of interest and option trades noted in the piece (Motley Fool holds positions in several names and lists a Jan 2026 MSFT call spread).

Key Decisions for Investors

• Consider modestly accumulating Microsoft on fundamentals and AI/OpenAI exposure while using defined‑risk call spreads to capture a potential short-term split pop (for example, structures similar to the Jan 2026 $395/$405 MSFT spread mentioned in the article), Monitor MercadoLibre for operational signs of a 2026 rebound and prefer entry on fundamentals-driven pullbacks rather than speculating solely on a first-ever split
• Watch Dow‑index signals and reconstitution commentary for Goldman and Caterpillar as possible triggers for a split; treat any split as a tactical catalyst and either scale positions or hedge exposure rather than pivoting on the split alone
• For Costco and other high‑price names, prioritize long‑term business metrics over split speculation, and confirm broker fractional‑share availability and compensation‑share issuance plans before initiating new positions