London, Jan 26, 2026, 09:00 GMT — Regular session
- Reckitt shares fell about 3.8%, sliding to 5,788 pence in early London trading.
- All eyes are on the shareholder vote set for Jan. 27, which will decide on a 235p special dividend and a share consolidation.
- Jan. 30 marks the record date, with shares going ex-special dividend on Feb. 2. Payment will follow on Feb. 20.
Shares in Reckitt Benckiser Group plc fell about 3.8% to 5,788 pence (£57.88) by 0900 GMT Monday, down from last week’s close at 6,018 pence. Early trades bounced between 5,748 and 5,952 pence. 1
The drop comes just ahead of tomorrow’s shareholder vote on a £1.6 billion capital return scheme. It includes a special dividend of 235 pence per share and a 24-for-25 share consolidation, as outlined in a Jan. 7 regulatory filing. Reckitt intends to pay the dividend on Feb. 20, with shares going ex-dividend on Feb. 2 and the record date set for Jan. 30. 2
Timing matters. Investors wanting the cash need to be registered by week’s end. The share consolidation—a technical move reducing the share count and adjusting the price per share after the payout—could muddy short-term price signals.
Reckitt ended Friday at £60.18, down 1.57% on the day and still shy of its 52-week high of £62.62 hit earlier this month, per MarketWatch data. Roughly 1.0 million shares changed hands, falling short of the 50-day average volume of 1.7 million. 3
Reckitt is set to pay a special dividend following the sale of its Essential Home business to Advent International, a deal finalized on Dec. 31. The company retained a 30% equity stake in the acquisition vehicle. CEO Kris Licht called the divestment “a major step forward in our strategy” when the transaction was announced. 4
Broker commentary shows the situation remains unsettled after the sale. RBC Capital Markets, which downgraded its rating on Jan. 14, said its updated forecasts “are not the finished article.” The firm flagged limited detail on 2026 margin expectations and what it called stranded costs tied to the disposal. It also spelled out assumptions around the group’s exposure to U.S. infant formula litigation. 5
The corporate move seeks to keep the per-share price stable as cash leaves the company. Such events tend to draw fast money, often sparking early-session volatility, especially with index and derivatives changes looming.
The package remains tentative. Shareholders must still approve the special dividend and consolidation at Tuesday’s general meeting. Any surprise outcome or hold-up might force investors to rethink the payout and short-term logistics. 6
All eyes are on Tuesday’s meeting and the company’s plans for moving forward with implementation. Traders will then focus on the stock’s behavior ahead of the Jan. 30 record date and the Feb. 2 ex-special dividend and consolidation.
Reckitt is set to announce its full-year results on March 5, with an investor presentation scheduled for 08:30 GMT at the London Stock Exchange. 7
