Final answer:
Since the provided LibreTexts reference does not include information on Hewlett-Packard's specific stock splits, we cannot accurately answer the question. Instead, the reference focuses on dividends and capital gains trends in the S&P 500 index stocks over several decades.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question about Hewlett-Packard's common stock splits is directly related to the company's historical performance and changes in its equity structure over time since it went public. In the context of the stock market, a stock split is an action taken by a company to divide its existing shares into multiple new shares, typically to make the stock more affordable and increase liquidity. To accurately determine how often Hewlett-Packard has split its stock, one would need to refer to the company's historical stock data, which is not provided in the LibreTexts references given. However, the LibreTexts information given talks about the broader market trends, specifically focusing on dividends and capital gains in the S&P 500 index stocks.