Welcome to Ameritrade Plus University
 
investing 101Frequently asked questions I
Lessons:
1
 
Aiming for a realistic return
2
Identifying your real risks
3
Putting together the right portfolio
4
The psychology of investing
5
Investing for growth
6
Seven questions to ask before buying a growth stock
7
How to spot value
8
Selecting stocks for income
9
How to buy bonds
10
Preferred shares: uncommon values
11
Convertibles: the best of both worlds
12
Closed-end funds: their time will come again
13
The right way to use stock options
14
Mergers and acquisitions
15
Frequently asked questions I
16
Frequently asked questions II
Tool
Stock screener

Take the quiz
The Sivy 100
Glossary
About Investing 101

money101
An interactive course for managing your finances

 

Is it bullish if my stock is added to the S&P? Can stock splits and buybacks increase total returns? What should I do with a spinoff?

Q: Does being included in an index like the Dow or the S&P 500 increase a stock's returns?

A: Just being in an index doesn't have much long-term effect. But stocks typically receive a quick boost when they're added to a major index and go down a little when they're kicked out. That's because many mutual fund managers tie their performance to the Dow or the S&P 500, leading them to hold many of the same stocks. As a result, money managers frequently load up on new additions and dump stocks that are removed.

Q: Are stock splits good for shareholders?

A: Studies confirm that splits are good for share prices. According to one study, stocks that split two-for-one outperform the market over the following year by an average of four percentage points. That may not seem logical, since a split has no fundamental impact on value: You simply get more shares that are worth proportionately less.

But there are explanations. By reducing the share price, splits make it easier for small investors to buy 100-share round lots, boosting demand for the stock. In addition, no company wants to split its stock and then watch it decline. So a company's top managers aren't likely to authorize a split unless they are truly optimistic about the future. Of course, management confidence means more for blue chips than for start-ups, which may well disappoint even their own insiders.

Q: How beneficial are stock buybacks?

A: Companies that regularly buy back their own shares can outpace comparable stocks by as much as three or four percentage points a year, on average. In simplest terms, buybacks ensure that earnings -- and earning increases -- are divided among a smaller number of shares. As long as the cost of the buyback is less than the benefit of shrinking the number of shares outstanding, earnings per share will rise.

As a result, buybacks are most effective when a company has at least 12 percent annual growth and a P/E below 20. Of course, those are the same characteristics that conservative growth investors look for (see "Investing for growth"). So you should first choose stocks based on fundamentals, and only count buybacks as a bonus. Two cautions: Buybacks of high-priced stocks may not help much. And not all companies that announce buybacks actually follow through and repurchase shares.

Q: Should you hang on to a spinoff?

A: When a large corporation spins off some of its operations as an independent firm, the new stock may fall in the first month or so. Reason: Many existing shareholders who receive a spinoff dump it. Index funds, for example, won't hold it if it's not in their index. And individual investors may sell because the company doesn't fit their investing style. Following the initial dip, however, spinoffs often go on to be stellar performers. In fact, one study found that spinoffs outperform comparable stocks by as much as 20 percentage points over the first 18 months.

If you own a stock in a company that is going to grant you shares in a spinoff, it may be smart to wait at least a year before selling the new shares. On the other hand, if you aren't a shareholder and the spinoff is a stock you'd like to own, consider waiting until after the initial dip.

More frequently asked questions >>

 

Copyright 2000-2001 Time Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.