Costco declares a $30 special dividend
Nov 13, 2026
Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST) announced on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, that its board of directors has declared a special cash dividend of $30 per share. On the same day, the board reauthorized a share repurchase program of up to $4 billion.
The details
According to Costco's press release:
- the special cash dividend is $30 per share of common stock
- the total payout is approximately $13.3 billion
- the dividend is payable on December 4, 2026
- it will be paid to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 24, 2026
- the new share repurchase program allows Costco to buy back up to $4 billion of its shares and expires in November 2030
- it replaces the $4 billion program adopted in 2023, which was due to expire in January 2027 and under which $3.1 billion of shares had been purchased
The special dividend is separate from Costco's regular quarterly dividend. Costco's previous special dividend, of $15 per share, was paid in January 2024.
What Costco does
Costco operates membership warehouses that sell a limited range of products in large quantities, from groceries and household goods to electronics and fuel. Customers pay an annual membership fee to shop there. According to the release, Costco operates 945 warehouses, including 653 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, 43 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom and 20 in Korea, as well as locations in Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Sweden, Iceland and New Zealand. It also runs e-commerce sites in several countries.
What a special dividend is
A special dividend is a one-off payment to shareholders that is separate from a company's regular dividends. Companies may pay one when they have accumulated more cash than they need for their operations and investments. Unlike a regular dividend, a special dividend is not part of a recurring schedule, so it does not indicate what future payments will be.
Record date, ex-dividend date and payment date
Three dates matter for any dividend:
- the record date is the day on which a company checks its register to see who its shareholders are; for this dividend, it is November 24, 2026
- the ex-dividend date is the first day on which a buyer of the shares is no longer entitled to the dividend; under the US T+1 settlement cycle, it is generally the same day as the record date
- the payment date is when the cash is paid; for this dividend, it is December 4, 2026
To receive a dividend, an investor generally needs to own the shares before the ex-dividend date. On the ex-dividend date, the share price usually adjusts to reflect the value of the dividend that buyers will no longer receive.
What a share buyback is
In a share buyback, also called a share repurchase, a company buys its own shares on the market. This reduces the number of shares outstanding. A repurchase program sets a maximum amount the company may spend, but it does not oblige the company to buy that amount, and the timing of purchases is up to the company.
Dividends and taxes
Dividends are usually taxable, and the rules depend on the investor's country of residence. For shares of US companies held by non-US investors, US withholding tax may apply to dividend payments. The amount received can therefore be lower than the gross dividend.
What to watch
Key items include the record date on November 24, the payment date on December 4 and how much of the new $4 billion repurchase program is used over time.
Risks and uncertainties
A special dividend reduces the cash a company holds. Retail companies are affected by consumer spending, competition and costs, and share prices can be volatile. Past dividends do not indicate future payments.
What this means for investors
For Investing.one users following Costco, the special dividend and the new repurchase program may be relevant. The information above is based on Costco's press release.
Sources
This is not investment advice. Your capital is at risk.
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