The Trillion Dollar Split: 3 Giants Poised for a Split in 2026
Wall Street knows that a $5,000 stock scares away retail investors. With Costco nearing $1,000 and Booking passing $5,400, the pressure is building. Here are the top 3 candidates to announce a split in 2026.
✂️ The Watchlist
- ✓ The "Unobtainable" Stock: Booking Holdings (BKNG) is trading at ~$5,400. A 10-for-1 split is the only way to attract individual investors.
- ✓ The "People's" Stock: Costco (COST) is flirting with $1,000. History shows they dislike a 4-digit price tag.
- ✓ The "Holdout": Meta Platforms (META) is the only "Magnificent 7" stock that has never split. At $650, the time is ripe.
1. Why Splits Matter (The "Discount" Effect)
Mathematically, a stock split is meaningless. It’s like cutting a pizza into 8 slices instead of 4; you have the same amount of pizza.
Psychologically, it is powerful.
2. The 2026 Split Candidates
BKNG
Price: ~$5,400The Problem: "The $5k Barrier"
Booking Holdings is currently the most expensive stock in the S&P 500 (excluding Berkshire Hathaway A). Trading at over $5,400 per share, it is virtually impossible for a retail investor to buy a "Round Lot" (100 shares) for options trading.
COST
Price: ~$950The Problem: "Employee Options"
Costco prides itself on being employee-friendly. When the stock hits $1,000, it becomes difficult for employees to manage their stock-based compensation. Historically, Costco prefers a price range of $300-$500.
META
Price: ~$650The Problem: "Peer Pressure"
Apple, Nvidia, Google, Amazon, and Tesla have all split recently. Meta is the only "Magnificent 7" member that hasn't. At $650, it is getting heavy. A split would signal confidence in their AI monetization roadmap.
3. The "Dow Jones" Catalyst
The Hidden Incentive
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is "Price Weighted" (unlike the S&P 500 which is Market-Cap weighted). This means a $1,000 stock would have too much influence over the index.
If Costco or Broadcom ever want to be invited into the prestigious Dow Jones index, they must split their stock to a price below $200. This is a massive hidden catalyst for a 2026 split.
Disclaimer: Stock splits are speculative. No official announcements have been made by BKNG, COST, or META as of January 2026. This is an analysis of market conditions and historical probabilities.