Reading a stock split ratio
A split ratio of 2:1 means each existing share becomes two. Hold 100 shares at $400 the day before? You own 200 shares at $200 the day after — same $40,000, double the share count. 10:1 means 10 new shares for every old one. 1:2 is a reverse split: half as many shares at twice the price.
Ratios that aren't round numbers — say 1.5:1 or 1.1:1 — usually come from non-US listings where corporate actions blend stock dividends and splits. AlertaChart forwards the ratio verbatim from iTick; if you see an odd ratio, the issuer's own filing is the authoritative source.
Why splits matter for technical traders
Three reasons. Chart continuity: reputable data providers (including iTick) backward-adjust historical bars so the chart doesn't have a 50% gap on the split date — but cheap data feeds get this wrong. Sentiment: forward splits cluster in bull markets (companies do them when they're comfortable with the price). Reverse splits cluster in bear markets and delisting-risk scenarios. Options: existing contracts get adjusted on the split date, which routinely produces non-standard strikes (e.g., $187.50 strikes after a 1.5:1 adjustment) that confuse retail traders.
Inside AlertaChart
Splits surface in two places: the watchlist row shows an amber 1:2 · 3d pill when a symbol you're tracking has a split within the next 30 days, and the Symbol Info panel under any stock chart has a "Next Split" row showing ratio and effective date. The data backing both surfaces is the same calendar you see in the table above, cached for 6 hours per region.