Costco has announced the distribution of a special cash dividend of $30 per share, for a total value of approximately $13,3 billion. The decision was approved by the board of directors of the U.S. group, one of the world's leading wholesale distribution operators, which simultaneously authorized a new share buyback program of up to $4 billion. The special dividend will be paid on December 4th to shareholders who hold shares at the close of business on November 24th. The transaction represents a significant distribution of cash to investors and complements the company's strategy of remunerating shareholders through share buybacks on the market. The new buyback program will remain in effect until November 2030 and will replace the $4 billion program approved in 2023, which was scheduled to expire in January 2027. Under the previous plan, Costco had already repurchased shares totaling $3,1 billion. The announcement comes as the group boasts an international network of 945 stores, concentrated primarily in North America but also present in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The United States and Puerto Rico represent the largest market with 653 locations, followed by Canada with 115 and Mexico with 43. In Asia, Costco has 43 stores in Japan, 20 in South Korea, 14 in Taiwan, and seven in China, while in Australia it has 15 locations. Its European presence includes 29 stores in the United Kingdom, five in Spain, three in France, two in Sweden, and one in Iceland. Additionally, it operates a store in New Zealand. In addition to its physical network, the group operates e-commerce platforms in nine markets, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, and China. The two announced financial transactions confirm Costco's focus on shareholder remuneration, through a sizeable special dividend and a multi-year stock buyback program.
