I’ve been hearing many people talk about things like:
Technical adjustments
Stock split
Reverse split
Bonus shares
Rights issue
…especially in the Nigerian stock market.
But honestly, I don’t really understand what these things mean.
Sometimes after a company announces something like a stock split or bonus issue, I notice that:
The share price changes
The number of shares changes
Investors start reacting emotionally
And many beginners immediately think:
“Ah! The company has become cheaper!” Or: “Investors have become richer overnight!”
But I’ve also heard people say:
Technical adjustments do NOT change the real value of the company
And that these are mostly structural or accounting adjustments
So now I’m confused.
Please explain in a simple way:
What technical adjustments really mean in the stock market
Difference between stock split and reverse stock split
What bonus issue and rights issue mean
Why companies do these adjustments
And what beginners should understand before reacting emotionally to them
Please explain it in simple English without big grammar so even a beginner can understand clearly.
Alright… calm down first Because this is one of those “big grammar” in Finance that Experts use in the stock market that scares beginners. But the truth? It is actually very simple. What Are “Technical Adjustments” in the Stock Market? Technical adjustments simply mean: Changes made to a stock’s priRead more
Alright… calm down first
Because this is one of those “big grammar” in Finance that Experts use in the stock market that scares beginners.
But the truth?
It is actually very simple.
What Are “Technical Adjustments” in the Stock Market?
Technical adjustments simply mean:
Changes made to a stock’s price or structure WITHOUT changing the real value of the company.
As a Financial Literacy Advocate…
Let me explain this in a way that even Mama Ngozi that sells tomatoes in the village will understand.
Imagine:
Mama Ngozi has:
10 baskets of tomatoes
And the entire tomatoes are worth: ₦100,000
Meaning:
Each basket = ₦10,000
Good.
But Now…
Mama Ngozi notices that many customers cannot afford ₦10,000 per basket.
So what does she do?
She divides each basket into smaller bowls.
Now instead of:
10 baskets at ₦10,000
She now has:
100 bowls at ₦1,000
Now answer me carefully…
Did the tomatoes increase?
No.
Did the value increase?
No.
She only adjusted the structure.
That…
Is the same thing technical adjustments do in the stock market.
Oya… Cam down…
Let me Go deeper….
There are many types of Technical Adjustments, but as your Financial Literacy Advocate, let me explain the major ones.
1: STOCK SPLIT (FORWARD SPLIT)
This is when a company reduces the price of shares and increases the number of shares.
For Example:
Before:
1 share = ₦1,000
After 1-for-10 split:
That’s now….
10 shares = ₦100 each
Did investors lose money?
No.
The total value remains the same.
2: REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
This is the opposite of Forward share Split.
The company increases share price and reduces number of shares.
For Example:
Before:
10 shares at ₦100
After reverse split:
1 share at ₦1,000
Again…
The value remains the same.
3: BONUS ISSUE
This is when a company gives shareholders extra shares for free.
For Example:
You have:100 shares
The Company says:
“For every 1 share you have, take extra 1.”
Now you have: 200 shares
But… Here’s the Fun fact…
Many beginners in the Market Think:
“Ah! I have become richer!”
Relax….
Your ownership percentage is still the same.
So… You are not Richer.
4: RIGHTS ISSUE
This is when a company asks existing shareholders to buy additional shares, usually at a discounted price.
Why?
To raise more money for expansion.
5: DIVIDEND ADJUSTMENTS
This one is very important oooh…
Let me explain.
This is When a company pays dividends, the stock price may adjust slightly.
Why?
Because cash has left the company.
BUT… IKING…
WHY DO COMPANIES DO TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS?
Good question.
Let me tell you the hidden reasons.
– To Improve Liquidity
– Cheaper shares attract more buyers.
– More buyers = more trading activity.
– To Attract Retail Investors Because… Many retail investors fear high prices.
So companies reduce prices psychologically.
– To Maintain Market Image because…Some companies don’t want shares looking “too cheap.”
So they do reverse splits to increase price appearance.
As your Financial Literacy Advocate…
Let me tell you something very important.
Technical adjustments do NOT automatically mean:
Company is growing
Company is failing
Investors became richer overnight
They are mostly what we called “Structural adjustments” in finance.
Now… Let me tell you the truth…
Most beginners focus only on:
“How much is the share?”
While…
Smart investors focus on:
“What is the value of the company?”
Because…
In the Nigeria STOCK Market…
A ₦50 share can be overvalued.
And a ₦5,000 share can still be undervalued.
That’s why…
I have maintained that…
The stock market is full of psychology.
And many people lose money because they react emotionally to technical adjustments without understanding what is really happening.
That is why financial literacy is important.
Because once you understand the game…
You stop panicking.
And you start thinking like an investor that learn everyday on Fokona.
My name is Iking Ferry
See lessA Financial Literacy Advocate and Investment Strategist On a mission to build
10 million financially free Nigerians and Africans
Through the right knowledge.