Will Costco Treat Investors to Another Special Dividend in 2026?

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) is serious about rewarding shareholders. Since 2004, the retail giant has raised its dividend by 1,200%, easily outstripping the 75% inflation in that period. It's also spent $12.5 billion in share buybacks since 2000, including $903 million in share repurchases over the last fiscal year. Share buybacks are shareholder-friendly because they boost earnings per share by lowering the share count, helping to push stock prices higher. The company typically announces dividend inc ...