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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Where is Staples common stock traded and what is the ticker symbol? |
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Staples stock is traded on the NASDAQ market and the ticker symbol is: SPLS. |
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What is Staples cusip number? |
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855030102 |
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Does Staples have a Direct Stock Purchase Plan?
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Purchase of Staples, Inc. common stock can be made through a Direct Stock Purchase Plan administered by BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. Contact BNY Mellon Shareowner Services at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd or (888) 875-9002 for more information. |
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Does Staples pay a dividend? |
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While we will continue to retain earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business, we currently pay a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share. For complete information, please go to the Cash Dividend History section of this page. |
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When did the Company go public? |
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The Company had its Initial Public Offering (I.P.O.) on April 27, 1989. 3,250,000 shares sold at $19.00 per share ($0.74 after adjusting for stock splits). |
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How many stock splits has the Company had? |
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In 2005, Staples had its eighth stock split since the Initial Public Offering. For complete information, go to the Stock Splits section of this page.
Cash Dividend History
| Rate |
Frequency |
Record
Date |
Payment
Date |
| $0.133 (0.20 pre-split) |
Annual |
04/26/04 |
05/17/04 |
| $0.167 (0.25 pre-split) |
Annual |
03/28/05 |
04/14/05 |
| $0.22 |
Annual |
03/31/06 |
04/20/06 |
| $0.29 |
Annual |
03/30/07 |
04/19/07 |
| $0.33 |
Annual |
03/28/08 |
04/17/08 |
| $0.0825 |
Quarterly |
03/27/09 |
04/16/09 |
| $0.0825 |
Quarterly |
06/26/09 |
07/16/09 |
| $0.0825 |
Quarterly |
09/25/09 |
10/15/09 |
| $0.0825 |
Quarterly |
12/23/09 |
1/14/10 |
| $0.09 |
Quarterly |
3/26/10 |
04/15/10 |
| $0.09 |
Quarterly |
06/25/10 |
07/15/10 |
| $0.09 |
Quarterly |
09/24/10 |
10/14/10 |
| $0.09 |
Quarterly |
12/23/10 |
1/13/11 |
| $0.10 |
Quarterly |
3/25/11 |
4/14/11 |
Dividend FAQs |
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When did Staples first issue a cash dividend? |
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The first annual cash dividend was $0.20 per outstanding share of our common stock ($0.133 post-split), paid on May 17, 2004 to all stockholders of record on April 26, 2004. Prior to that, we had never paid a cash dividend on our common stock. Beginning in Q1 2009 we transitioned to a quarterly cash dividend from an annual cash dividend. |
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Will you continue to pay quarterly cash dividends? |
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While it is our intention to pay quarterly cash dividends following Q2 2011, any decision to pay future cash dividends will be made by our Board of Directors and will depend upon our earnings, financial condition and other factors. |
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Does Staples offer Dividend Reinvestment? |
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Dividends on Staples, Inc. common stock may be automatically invested in additional shares. Contact BNY Mellon Shareowner Services at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd or 888-875-9002 for more information.
Stock Splits
In 2005, Staples had its eighth stock split since the Initial Public Offering. The dates and details of each split are noted in the table below:
| Record Date |
Effective Date |
Split |
Split Adjusted I.P.O. Price |
| 06/26/91 |
07/10/91 |
3 for 2 |
$12.67 |
| 11/29/93 |
12/13/93 |
3 for 2 |
$8.45 |
| 10/14/94 |
10/28/94 |
3 for 2 |
$5.63 |
| 07/14/95 |
07/24/95 |
3 for 2 |
$3.76 |
| 03/15/96 |
03/25/96 |
3 for 2 |
$2.50 |
| 01/20/98 |
01/30/98 |
3 for 2 |
$1.67 |
| 01/18/99 |
01/28/99 |
3 for 2 |
$1.11 |
| 03/29/05 |
04/15/05 |
3 for 2 |
$0.74 |
Stock Split FAQs
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When was the last stock split? |
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The most recent split (3-for-2) was effective on April 15, 2005 at the close of trading. |
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How many times have you split the stock? |
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In 2005, Staples had its eighth stock split since the company went public in April 1989. One original share now equals approximately 26 shares. |
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How does a 3-for-2 stock split actually work? |
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A 3-for-2 split means the investor will have 1.5 times as many shares for every share that he/she had before, at two-thirds of the market price. Here's an example: As of the effective date, if an investor owns 100 shares of SPLS and the market price is $30.00 per share, that investor's total value is $3,000.00. After the split, the investor will have 150 shares of stock, but the market price will be $20.00 per share. The investor's total investment value in SPLS remains the same at $3,000.00 until the stock price moves up or down. |
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What is the effective date of the last stock split?
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Key dates:
The Record Date for the split was Tuesday, March 29, 2005.
The Effective Date for the split was Friday, April 15, 2005.
The Ex-Date, or Ex-Split date, for the split was Monday, April 18, 2005.
The Record Date
Determines which shareholders are entitled to receive additional shares due to the split. If you own shares on the record date, you will be entitled to receive the split shares if you still own the shares through the effective date. If you sell shares between the record date and the effective date, you will not receive additional shares as a result of the split. If you purchase shares between the record date and the effective date, you will receive additional shares (or if your shares are held by a brokerage firm, your broker will receive a "Due Bill" which will be exchanged for the additional shares after the effective date).
The Effective Date
If you own common stock shares through this date, you will be entitled to receive additional shares in connection with the stock split. This is also the date when holders of record or brokers are mailed notification of the shares subject to split by Mellon Investor Services (our stock transfer agent).
The Ex-split Date
Is the date when Staples common shares will trade on Nasdaq at the new split-adjusted price. Staples common shares purchased on this date will not receive additional shares in connection with the stock split.
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Who mails the split shares? |
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Our stock transfer agent, BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, mailed written notice to registered shareholders indicating their split-adjusted shares. If your stock is currently held in a brokerage account, the information was sent directly to your broker. |
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When were the split shares mailed? |
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New certificates will only be mailed upon request. BNY Mellon Shareowner Services mailed written notice to shareholders of record indicating their revised shareholdings on or about April 15, 2005 (the effective date) but you will not automatically receive share certificates. Most records of these types of transactions are now kept in a paperless fashion, so if you require physical stock certificates, you will need to make a special request. If your stock is currently held in a brokerage account, the information was sent directly to your broker. |
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My shares are deposited with a brokerage firm. How were my shares adjusted for the stock split?
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If your Staples shares are deposited with a brokerage firm (not held in certificate form), they were split automatically on the effective date (April 15, 2005). You didn't need to do anything. Your broker saw to it that your Staples stock holdings were properly adjusted for the stock split. Your new split-adjusted balance appeared in your brokerage account on Monday, April 18, 2005. |
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Where were my shares mailed?
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If you currently hold stock in your name, you were notified at the address BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, our stock transfer agent, has on file. To verify your address, please contact Staples Investor Relations at investor@staples.com or (800) 468-7751.
If your stock is currently held in a brokerage account, the additional shares were sent directly to your broker and then to your brokerage account. If this is the case, please call your broker directly if you need to verify your address. |
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How do I contact the Stock Transfer Agent? |
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You can reach BNY Mellon Shareowner Services (Staples' stock transfer agent) by:
Website: www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd
Phone: (888) 875-9002
Address:
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
P.O. Box 358015
Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8015
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