Costco declares record $30 special dividend ($13.3B) and renews $4B buyback
What happened
Costco's board declared a special cash dividend of $30 per share on Tuesday, Nov 10 — a record one-off payout worth about $13.3 billion in total, double the $15 special dividend Costco last paid. The dividend is payable Dec 4, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov 24. The board also approved a new $4 billion share repurchase program running through November 2030, replacing the 2023 authorization (due to expire January 2027) under which $3.1 billion had already been spent. Costco shares gained overnight after the announcement. The company gave no executive commentary and did not say how the dividend or buyback would be funded.
Why it matters & what’s next are part of Pro, along with the audio summary.
Start your free 14-day trialWho’s affected
- Costco (COST) — direct; a $13.3B one-off payout worth roughly 2.8% of the share price, plus fresh buyback capacity through 2030
- Consumer staples / discount retail — the payout signals balance-sheet strength and sets a capital-return benchmark peers will be measured against