A share split changes the number of shares. Historical per-share amounts must be compared on a consistent basis before a change can be described as dividend growth or a cut.
Follow the number of shares
In a hypothetical 2-for-1 split, 100 shares become 200 shares. A CAD 1 dividend per old share and CAD 0.50 per new share both represent CAD 100 for that holding. The per-share number halved, but this example’s total amount did not.
A consolidation runs the other way. In a 1-for-5 consolidation, five old shares become one new share. Fractional-share treatment may add further terms, so the corporate-action notice matters.
The ratio needs a direction and a date
CanadaYield stores a split ratio as new shares divided by old shares. A 10-for-1 split is 10; a 1-for-5 consolidation is 0.2. Converting an old per-share amount to the new basis means dividing by that ratio.
An announced action is not the same as a confirmed effective action. Legal effectiveness, distribution and trading dates can also differ. Applying the same split twice because two filings mention different dates would produce a serious error.
Read our historical amounts as reported
The dividend archive currently preserves the per-share amount in each collected declaration. It is not a fully split-adjusted history. The corporate-actions page lists separately collected evidence, which may itself be incomplete.
Before calling a change a cut or an increase, check the security, share class, currency, event type, split basis and coverage. A neat line chart cannot resolve missing evidence. That is why the initial timeline emphasizes dates and original amounts rather than a continuous growth claim.
Sources and further reading
Rules and issuer terms can change. Consult the current source and a qualified professional when you need advice about your circumstances.
Open a stock page, read its payment wording, and follow the original filing. Found an issue? Send a correction.