Stock splits don't change the value of a company, but they do often indicate that management expects the business will continue to perform well. And that solid operational performance can lead to wealth-building gains for shareholders.
If you have $1,000 or more to invest that you don't need for everyday living expenses or to pay down debt, you have come to the right place. Read on to learn about two high-quality businesses that have recently split their stock. Both are set to deliver handsome rewards to their investors.
Stock-split stock to buy No. 1: Walmart
Inflation might be moderating, but the sharp rise in the price of food, shelter, and other essentials in recent years has many people searching for discounts wherever they can. In an increasingly high-cost world, Walmart (WMT -1.22%), with its prices, has become an oasis for these bargain-hunting consumers.
A vast selection of low-cost groceries and other household necessities is enabling Walmart's stores to generate strong sales even as shoppers pull back on nonessentials. This is one reason it has outperformed Target and other competitors that rely more on discretionary sales.
WMT total return price; data by YCharts.
The retailer's online sales are also growing briskly. Booming demand for curbside pickup and delivery services fueled a 21% surge in Walmart's e-commerce revenue in its most recent quarter.
An expanding army of third-party merchants further lifted sales on the company's online marketplaces. These sellers are also driving the expansion of Walmart's lucrative advertising business, which saw sales rise by 26%.
Better still, its investments in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are boosting profits. The company's operating income climbed by more than 8% to $8 billion on a 5% increase in revenue to $169 billion.
Walmart, in turn, chose to reward its shareholders with a 3-for-1 stock split in February. With its value-focused strategy clearly resonating with consumers, investors can expect the retail leader to continue to deliver strong returns.
Stock-split stock to buy No. 2: Nvidia
While Walmart is saving people money, Nvidia (NVDA -2.09%) is helping its customers create game-changing innovations. The semiconductor leader's chip designs lie at the heart of the AI revolution.
Cloud computing giants like Microsoft and Alphabet are ramping up their spending on AI infrastructure. Nvidia's chips are the best on the market, so it's a huge beneficiary of this powerful trend. The chipmaker's revenue leaped by 122% year over year to $30 billion in its most recent quarter. Net profits rose by an even more impressive 168% to $16.6 billion.
Yet the party is just getting started. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang estimates that $1 trillion worth of data center equipment will need to be upgraded to new accelerated computing infrastructure to meet the torrid demand for AI. As the leading provider of AI chip designs, his company stands to profit from this massive spending more than any other company.
With its business firing on all cylinders, Nvidia dazzled investors with a 10-for-1 stock split in June. Wall Street analysts see plenty of upside remaining. For one, Rosenblatt Securities analyst Hans Mosesmann believes the stock is headed to $200 per share, fueled by strong sales of its forthcoming Blackwell chips. That would represent gains of more than 85% for investors who buy shares today.
Moreover, if you invest in Nvidia's stock now, you'll likely be buying alongside its management. The board of directors boosted its share repurchase program by $50 billion on Aug. 26.
