Costco declares $30 special dividend and renews $4 billion buyback

Costco's board approved a one-time $30 per share special cash dividend, a payout of roughly $13.3 billion, payable December 4, 2026 to holders of record at the close of November 24, 2026. The board also replaced its 2023 repurchase authorization, which had $3.1 billion used and was due to expire in January 2027, with a new program of up to $4 billion running through November 2030. The payout is about twice the size of the $15 special dividend paid in January 2024, which totaled about $6.7 billion. Shares traded modestly higher after hours on the announcement day.

1. Special cash dividend of $30 per share, about $13.3 billion in total, declared November 10, 2026.
2. Payable December 4, 2026 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 24, 2026.
3. New common-stock repurchase program of up to $4 billion, expiring November 2030.
4. It replaces the 2023 $4 billion program, under which $3.1 billion had been purchased, scheduled to expire January 2027.
5. The January 2024 special dividend was $15 per share and totaled about $6.7 billion, per Benzinga.
6. Costco shares were up about 1.65% at $1,083.73 in after-hours trading on November 10, 2026, per Benzinga Pro data.