Which statement accurately reflects a stock split?

The correct statement regarding a stock split is that stockholder wealth is generally unaffected by stock splits.

When a company decides to split its stock, it increases the number of shares outstanding while simultaneously reducing the share price proportionally, meaning that each shareholder ends up holding more shares but at a lower price per share. For example, in a 2-for-1 split, a shareholder with one share worth $100 will now hold two shares worth $50 each. The overall value of their investment remains the same, assuming the market conditions do not change immediately after the split. This mechanism ensures that although the share price is adjusted, the total market capitalization of the company remains unchanged, and thus the wealth of shareholders does not increase or decrease as a direct result of the split itself.

The other options do not accurately represent the nature of stock splits. For instance, dividends are not typically issued during a split; the split itself is simply an adjustment of the shares and does not involve cash payouts. Furthermore, stock splits are straightforward financial actions aimed at enhancing liquidity and marketability of shares, rather than being complex manipulations. Lastly, they do not primarily aim to increase share prices; rather, they often aim to make shares more affordable and accessible to a broader range