Re: [GNC] GnuCash and stock splits

I'm sure it could be automated but you'll have to decide how you're 
going to do it and if it's worth the effort.  One approach is to import 
the transactions.

On 6/11/26 7:27 AM, Clint Chaplin wrote:
> I can see other reasons why just modifying the original transactions will
> not be optimal.
> 
> In my case, I have IBM stock I inherited in 1995, and with DRIPs, there are
> about 100 transactions to crawl through when the KD spinoff happened in
> 2021, and now more than 125 transactions.  I am not looking forward to
> manually selling the old IBM lots, buying new IBM lots with the updated
> modified basis, and then purchasing KD lots as the spinoff.  I'm wondering
> if it could be automated, either by computerized control of GnuCash or by
> interfacing with the database directly.
> 
> On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 10:46 AM Sherlock <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
>> One reason we don't modify the existing transactions to reflect the new
>> stock and price per share amounts is we use reports which rely on the
>> price history maintained in the price database.
>>
>> On 6/8/26 8:57 AM, Clint Chaplin wrote:
>>> Given that GnuCash is not ink and paper, why not just modify the existing
>>> transactions to reflect the new stock and price per share amounts?
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jun 7, 2026 at 6:07 PM Sherlock <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> We use the date of the stock split for the new transaction and track the
>>>> acquisition date separately.  If we use the scrub tool and it pairs a
>>>> sale with the wrong lot, we reset it.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Sherlock
>>>>
>>>> On 6/7/26 9:37 AM, Clint Chaplin wrote:
>>>>> So, when selling the stock at the old basis and repurchasing at the new
>>>>> basis, what date is used for the transactions?  And if it is the date
>> of
>>>>> the stock split, don't you lose the info for the scrub tool to pair
>>>>> subsequent sales to the proper lot using FIFO?∑å
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Jun 5, 2026 at 2:47 PM Sherlock <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Clint,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't think you've missed much.  The approach used by the stock
>> split
>>>>>> tool allows GnuCash to track the average cost basis.  My understanding
>>>>>> is GnuCash's lot management support was added late.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To track cost basis by lot, the approach we use for stock splits is to
>>>>>> enter a transaction selling each lot's shares at their current cost
>>>>>> basis and purchasing the new shares of each lot at their new cost
>> basis.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sherlock
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 6/5/26 12:45 PM, Clint Chaplin wrote:
>>>>>>> I'm setting up GnuCash for my use for personal finance, and it was
>>>> going
>>>>>> OK
>>>>>>> until I came to entering in some IBM stock I inherited in 1995, and
>>>> which
>>>>>>> has been DRIPping ever since.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> IBM split 2 for 1 in 1997 and 1999, and then IBM spun out Kyndryl
>> (KD)
>>>> in
>>>>>>> 2021.  My current financial programs (MECA's Managing Your Money
>>>> vintage
>>>>>>> late 1980s and Quicken For Windows version 3 vintage early 1990s)
>>>> managed
>>>>>>> to have tools for stock splits that went in and adjusted the basis
>> and
>>>>>>> amount of stock for lots that predate the stock split date, and
>> Quicken
>>>>>>> even somehow kept track of pre and post split stock pricing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> GnuCash, not so much.  It seems as though the stock split tool
>> creates
>>>> a
>>>>>>> transaction that just dumps in zero-priced stock to increase (or
>>>>>> decrease!)
>>>>>>> the number of shares post-split, but doesn't go in and modify the
>> basis
>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> number of shares for lots that predate the split, which was my
>>>>>> expectation.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Now, I guess I can go in and manually modify the stock purchase and
>>>>>>> dividend reinvestment transactions so the post-split basis is
>>>> "correct",
>>>>>>> but I was sorta hoping it was automated.  For the 2 for one stock
>>>> splits
>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> don't have that many DRIP transactions when they occurred, but by the
>>>>>> time
>>>>>>> the KD spinout happens in 2021 it's gonna be a lot of transactions
>>>> (over
>>>>>>> 100?)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Am I missing something?  Should I submit a feature request?  Or
>> should
>>>> I
>>>>>>> just consider it as something high-effort low-benefit that won't get
>>>>>> done?

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