Raymond James Announces $2B Share Repurchase Plan & 8% Dividend Hike

Core Insights - Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) has initiated a new share repurchase program allowing for the buyback of up to $2 billion in shares, replacing the previous $1.5 billion plan announced in December 2024 [1][7] - The company has also increased its quarterly cash dividend by 8% to 54 cents per share, with the dividend payment scheduled for January 16, 2026 [2][7] - RJF's strong cash position of $11.4 billion and a manageable debt level of $700 million support the sustainability of its capital distribution strategy [3][4][7] Share Repurchase Program - The new share repurchase program has no expiration date and allows RJF to repurchase shares worth up to $2 billion [1][7] - As of December 2, 2025, approximately $105 million worth of shares were still available for repurchase under the previous plan [1] Dividend Announcement - The quarterly cash dividend of 54 cents per share reflects an 8% increase from the previous payout, continuing RJF's trend of regular dividend increases over the past decade [2][3] - The dividend will be paid to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2026 [2] Financial Position - RJF's annualized dividend yield stands at 1.26%, providing a steady income stream for investors, with a dividend payout ratio of 19% [3] - The company's cash and cash equivalents of $11.4 billion indicate a strong balance sheet, supporting its capital distribution strategy [3][4] Market Performance - Over the past six months, RJF's shares have increased by 10.7%, while the industry has seen a growth of 20.6% [5]