London, Jan 25, 2026, 08:40 GMT — The market has closed.
Shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc fell 1.57% on Friday, closing at 60.18 pounds. That cut the stock’s year-to-date advance to roughly 0.3%. The maker of Dettol and Durex remains up 18.7% over the past year but is trading about 3.4% below its 52-week peak, per London Stock Exchange data. (Londonstockexchange)
As markets remain closed over the weekend, all eyes turn to Tuesday. Reckitt has scheduled a shareholder meeting for Jan. 27, aiming to get the green light on a special dividend and a share consolidation connected to selling its Essential Home business. (Reckitt)
A company circular outlines a special dividend proposal of 235 pence per share, totaling about £1.6 billion, paired with a 24-for-25 share consolidation. The schedule lists Jan. 30 as the record date, with shares going ex-dividend on Feb. 2. Payment is slated for Feb. 20, pending shareholder approval. (Euroland Tools)
Reckitt’s shares fluctuated from 6,002 to 6,110 pence on Friday, finally settling at 6,018 pence, per Yahoo Finance. This marked a drop of 96 pence from Thursday’s close, with roughly 1.27 million shares changing hands. (Yahoo Finance)
Reckitt continued its share buyback, acquiring 49,250 shares on Jan. 22 at a volume-weighted average price of 6,089.71 pence. The company plans to hold these shares in treasury. (Investegate)
In the circular, chair Sir Jeremy Darroch stated Reckitt plans to “return approximately £1.6 billion of excess capital” once the Essential Home sale to Advent International wraps up, while holding onto a 30% equity stake. The board also supported the share consolidation to maintain comparable per-share metrics following the cash payout. (Reckitt)
A special dividend is a one-time payout added to the regular dividend. The share consolidation acts as a reverse split—fewer shares outstanding, each priced higher—to prevent a mechanical drop in price after the cash leaves the company. When the stock goes ex-dividend, new investors miss out on that special payout, and prices usually adjust accordingly.
The vote comes as Reckitt approaches the close of its second 2025 buyback tranche, set to wrap up by Jan. 30. The company has allocated up to £250 million for these repurchases. (Investegate)
The week could still hit snags. If the vote fails, the timetable falls apart and investors will have to rethink the cash return. Even if the corporate actions proceed as planned, the share price might not remain “broadly similar.” Reckitt also faces ongoing pressure from its Mead Johnson infant formula lawsuit in the U.S. Back in March 2025, the company announced a U.S. court ordered a new trial in a preterm formula case. (Reuters)
Traders are focused on Tuesday’s 08:00 GMT meeting and the company’s statement that will follow shortly after. Key upcoming dates include Jan. 30 for the record date, Feb. 2 for the ex-special dividend and share consolidation, and Feb. 20 for the cash payment—assuming shareholders approve. (Investegate)
