Could These 5 High-Priced Stocks Be Next? A 2026 Stock Split Forecast

Stock splits remain one of Wall Street’s most anticipated corporate actions, yet they’re far rarer today than in decades past. With fractional share investing now common, many investors wonder: which expensive stocks might finally split their shares in 2026? While there’s zero guarantee any company will announce one, tracking potential candidates can reveal compelling investment opportunities—because stocks don’t reach premium price levels without strong underlying business performance.

Why Do Stock Splits Still Matter?

Before diving into specific candidates, it’s worth understanding what drives a company to split. Beyond the psychological appeal of lower share prices, there’s a practical consideration: the Dow Jones Industrial Average operates on a price-weighted model, meaning higher-priced stocks dominate index composition. For companies seeking entry or repositioning within this elite index, a stock split becomes more than cosmetic—it’s strategic.

Additionally, many corporations use stock options as employee compensation. Keeping share prices manageable makes these equity packages more accessible and psychologically rewarding for staff. Yet companies only face expensive stock prices through one path: their stock genuinely rises because the business thrives. This creates an interesting thesis: finding companies on the cusp of splitting might indicate finding companies with strong fundamentals.

The Price-Weighted Dow Effect: Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar

Two of our five candidates illustrate this dynamic perfectly. Goldman Sachs trades near $850 per share, making it the single largest component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average—accounting for approximately 11% of the index’s entire weight despite representing just one of 30 companies.

Caterpillar faces a similar situation, commanding roughly 8% of Dow composition at a $600 share price as the index’s second-largest holding.

Together with another candidate we’ll discuss, these three stocks represent about 25% of the Dow’s weighting despite comprising only 10% of its constituents. This concentration raises a question: will index management pressure these companies to split, or do they enjoy outsized influence? Either way, it creates a catalyst for potential share division.

The Technology Giant: Microsoft’s Long Wait

Microsoft remains the most affordable on our list at just under $500 per share, yet this price point still seems steep relative to many tech peers. What’s remarkable? Microsoft hasn’t split its stock since 2003—over two decades ago.

The company’s trajectory has been extraordinary, particularly its central role in the artificial intelligence boom. As a primary cloud computing infrastructure provider and major OpenAI investor, Microsoft’s value proposition continues strengthening. Should OpenAI ever go public, Microsoft’s stake could appreciate significantly, providing another boost to an already rising share price. A stock split in 2026 wouldn’t create this value—but it could arrive as a natural consequence of it.

The E-Commerce and Fintech Powerhouse: MercadoLibre

MercadoLibre presents the most intriguing case, trading near $2,000 per share—the highest on this list. Remarkably, this company has never split its stock despite consistently trading above $1,000 for years.

The company’s ambitions rival Amazon’s footprint in Latin America, yet it also built a parallel payments infrastructure that generates recurring revenue streams. This dual business model creates genuine defensibility. While 2025 saw sluggish returns, many analysts anticipate a rebound as emerging markets strengthen. Whether or not a split occurs, MercadoLibre’s business fundamentals suggest 2026 could be a pivotal year for recovery.

The Warehouse Retail Leader: Costco’s 25-Year Gap

Finally, Costco Wholesale rounds out our quintet at approximately $900 per share. Its last stock split occurred in 2000—a quarter-century ago—making it statistically overdue by historical precedent.

Notably, Costco doesn’t currently hold a Dow position, though it arguably deserves one given its market significance. Industry observers speculate that a stock split could be a prerequisite for Dow inclusion. If that’s the company’s strategic goal, 2026 becomes the year to watch. The timing would align neatly with broader market expectations and corporate planning cycles.

What This Means for Investors

Stock splits themselves aren’t investment theses. The price pop that follows an announcement is typically a one-time event, not a sustained trend. However, they do reveal something important: companies reaching these premium valuations do so because their underlying businesses are performing well.

Rather than chasing the split itself, savvy investors recognize these situations as markers of company quality. By identifying which firms are most likely to split—based on valuation, index positioning, and historical precedent—you’re essentially identifying companies with demonstrated staying power and continued growth momentum.

The five candidates outlined above each carry legitimate split probability in 2026, though nothing is certain. More importantly, each represents a company worth examining on its fundamental merits, regardless of whether that stock split announcement arrives.