Bonus shares are one of the most exciting corporate actions for investors. Many beginners hear the term often but are unsure about what bonus shares actually mean, how they work, and whether they increase the value of an investment.
This comprehensive guide covers:
What bonus shares are
How bonus ratios work
Whether bonuses affect the value of your investment
Why companies issue bonuses
A real example of Infosys and its massive bonus history
Key parameters that help you identify companies likely to issue bonus shares
What comes next: taxation of bonus shares (covered in Part 2)
1. What Are Bonus Shares?
Bonus shares are free shares given by a company to its existing shareholders.
Companies issue them in a specific ratio.
Examples of Bonus Ratios
1:1 bonus → For every 1 share you hold, you get 1 free share.
3:1 bonus → For every 1 share you hold, you get 3 free shares.
9:1 bonus → For every 1 share you hold, you get 9 free shares.
Bonus shares are not a cash benefit — they simply increase the number of shares you own.
2. The Role of the Record Date
To receive bonus shares, you must hold the company’s shares in your demat account on the record date.
If you buy the stock after the record date — you won’t get the bonus.
If the shares reflect in your demat on the record date — you are eligible.
This is one of the most important points for investors to understand.
3. Do Bonus Shares Increase Your Investment Value?
A common misconception is that bonus shares instantly multiply your wealth.
In reality, bonus shares do not change the total value of your investment immediately.
Example
Original price of the stock: ₹1,000
Bonus ratio: 1:1
After bonus, the number of shares doubles
The price per share typically adjusts to ₹500 (half)
Before bonus
1 share × ₹1,000 = ₹1,000
After bonus
2 shares × ₹500 = ₹1,000
Your portfolio value remains the same on day one.
4. If Value Doesn't Increase, Why Do Companies Issue Bonuses?
Although bonuses don’t create instant profits, they have important benefits.
a. Lower Share Price → More Affordability
A high-priced stock may discourage many small investors.
After the bonus:
Price drops
Stock becomes more affordable
Market participation increases
Higher demand can push up the stock price over time
b. Improved Liquidity
More circulating shares = easier to buy or sell the stock.
c. Positive Sentiment
Investors emotionally see bonuses as a reward, which strengthens confidence and attracts new buyers.
5. Case Study: Infosys — The King of Bonus Shares in India
Infosys is one of the best-known examples of how bonus shares can multiply the number of shares dramatically over time.
IPO price (1993): ₹95 per share
Let’s assume an investor purchased 10 shares for ₹950 total.
Infosys has issued 8 bonuses since listing.
By applying each bonus ratio progressively, the original 10 shares eventually became:
5,120 shares
Now assume the stock’s market price is ₹815.
Final value:
5,120 × ₹815 = ₹41,72,800+
An initial investment of ₹950 potentially grew to more than ₹41 lakh — mainly because the number of shares increased rapidly over multiple bonus issues, combined with long-term price appreciation.
This is the power of holding high-quality companies for decades.
6. How to Identify Companies Likely to Issue Bonus Shares
While no one can predict bonuses with 100% certainty, several parameters improve your understanding of which companies may announce bonuses.
Parameter 1: Strong and Consistent Profits
A company issuing bonus shares must have:
Steady profits
Strong internal financial health
Bonus shares come from the company’s reserves, and only profitable companies can build sizable reserves.
Parameter 2: High Reserves
Check the company’s balance sheet:
Reserves appear on the liability side
High reserves increase the probability of bonuses
Companies can use reserves in four ways:
Pay dividends
Expand operations
Issue bonus shares
Announce share buyback
If reserves are consistently rising, bonus possibilities increase.
Parameter 3: Company’s Past Behaviour (History)
Companies with a history of issuing bonuses are more likely to continue the trend.
If a company has never issued a bonus, the probability of sudden bonus announcements is low.
Parameter 4: Strong Product Margins
Higher product margins → higher profits → higher reserves → higher bonus potential.
Industries with robust margins consistently generate the cash needed for such corporate actions.
7. What Comes Next? Taxation of Bonus Shares
Taxation on bonus shares is an entirely separate discussion.
It involves:
Long-term capital gains (LTCG)
Short-term capital gains (STCG)
Calculation of the cost of acquisition (which becomes zero for bonus shares)
How the holding period is determined
Because the topic is detailed and important, it is best explained in a dedicated article.
Part 2 will cover the complete taxation rules of bonus shares with practical examples.
Conclusion
Bonus shares are an excellent way for companies to reward shareholders without distributing cash. While they don’t immediately increase your investment value, they enhance affordability, sentiment, liquidity, and long-term wealth creation.
Smart investors evaluate:
Profits
Reserves
Past bonus history
Product margins
Company philosophy on rewarding shareholders
Understanding these parameters helps you identify companies that may announce bonus shares in the future.
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