Costco Declares Record $13.3 Billion Special Cash Dividend

Costco Wholesale Corporation declared a special cash dividend of $30 per share on November 10, 2026, marking the largest such payment in the company's history. The distribution totals approximately $13.3 billion and is payable on December 4, 2026, to shareholders of record as of November 24. This payment is separate from the regular quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share and represents roughly two-thirds of the $20.207 billion in cash the company held as of August 30.

Alongside the dividend, the board reauthorized a common-stock repurchase program of up to $4 billion, expiring in November 2030. This replaces a 2023 authorization of the same size, under which the company had already spent $3.1 billion. The financial moves follow a strong October performance where net sales rose 12.6% over the previous year to $24.5 billion.

In response to the announcement, Mizuho raised its price target for Costco stock to $1,100 from $1,065, maintaining an Outperform rating. Mizuho noted that the company has more available cash than immediate deployment opportunities and expects future free cash to fund eCommerce, retail media, and rapid delivery initiatives.