London, Jan 21, 2026, 08:12 GMT — Regular session
- Reckitt shares climbed roughly 0.7% in early London trading
- The latest RNS reveals additional buybacks, with the shares now held in treasury
- Attention shifts to the Jan. 27 vote on the special dividend and share consolidation
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT.L) shares climbed 0.7% to 6,150 pence in early London trading Wednesday, gaining 44 pence since Tuesday’s close at 6,106.
Investors are gearing up for a Jan. 27 shareholder vote on Reckitt’s plan to pay out around £1.6 billion through a special dividend and execute a 24-for-25 share consolidation. The company has proposed a 235 pence per share dividend, set to be paid on Feb. 20 if the plan gets the green light, with a record date of Jan. 30.
Special dividends are one-time cash payouts. Shares usually fall on the ex-dividend date since new buyers won’t receive the dividend. A share consolidation, or reverse split, cuts the number of shares outstanding, aiming to keep the share price roughly the same, assuming no other changes.
Reckitt revealed Wednesday it snapped up 49,270 shares on Jan. 20, paying a volume-weighted average of 6,088.22 pence per share, which it’s holding in treasury under approval from its May 2025 AGM. Another filing showed a purchase of 49,100 shares on Jan. 19 at an average price of 6,109.49 pence.
UK stocks started lower as jitters linger following Tuesday’s 0.72% drop in the FTSE 100, dragged down by tariff concerns and a wider retreat from risk. “Geopolitical tensions have dented sentiment and cooled early-year exuberance, but they haven’t fundamentally altered the global growth or earnings outlook,” said Laura Cooper, senior macro strategist at Nuveen. Reuters
UK inflation figures released Wednesday revealed consumer prices rose 3.4% in December, just above the Reuters poll forecast. Services inflation edged higher to 4.5%. This unexpected uptick may complicate the Bank of England’s plans for aggressive rate cuts in 2026.
Reckitt has positioned the upcoming payout as a supplement to its regular dividend and ongoing buybacks. This approach keeps the stock classified in the “cash return” category for many investors, despite modest daily price fluctuations.
However, the plan depends on shareholder approval and a smooth consolidation process. Major corporate moves often trigger volatile trading near record dates, with some investors rebalancing while others hold out for the post-dividend adjustment.
Aside from the corporate moves, investors are eyeing Reckitt’s full-year results due March 5 for a clearer picture on trading and costs.
Coming up next is the general meeting on Jan. 27, which will focus on the special dividend and share consolidation.
