London, Feb 16, 2026, 08:00 GMT — Regular session
- Reckitt Benckiser shares were little changed at 6,466 pence in early trade, near a 52-week high.
- A 235 pence special dividend is due on Feb. 20 for eligible holders, alongside a completed share consolidation.
- Investors are also looking ahead to full-year results due on March 5.
Shares in Reckitt Benckiser Group plc were little changed in early London trading on Monday, down 0.03% at 6,466 pence and hovering just below the stock’s 52-week high. (Investing)
The near-term focus is cash. Reckitt has said it expects to pay a 235 pence-per-share special dividend on Feb. 20, part of a planned return of about £1.6 billion to shareholders tied to its portfolio reshuffle. (Investegate)
After that, attention shifts to March. Reckitt will report full-year results on March 5 and will hold an investor presentation at the London Stock Exchange at 08:30 GMT, the company said. (Reckitt)
The stock closed on Friday at 6,468 pence, up 1.16% on the day — a level that matches the top of its past-year trading range, based on recent price data. (Investing)
Mechanically, the dividend is already “in the price” for new buyers. The shares went ex-special-dividend on Feb. 2, meaning buyers after that date are not entitled to the payout, and the company paired the dividend with a 24-for-25 share consolidation designed to keep the share price broadly similar after the cash leaves the business. (Financial Times Markets)
Reckitt’s special dividend follows the sale of its Essential Home business to Advent International, with Reckitt retaining a 30% equity stake. Chief Executive Kris Licht called the divestment “a major step forward” as the group pushes toward a tighter set of “Powerbrands” in consumer health and hygiene. (Reckitt)
Capital returns did not stop there. Reckitt said on Feb. 2 it completed the second tranche of its £1 billion share buyback programme, purchasing 3,461,470 shares at an average price of £59.46 and holding them in treasury. (Investegate)
But the strategy comes with execution risk. Reckitt previously flagged cash tax, transaction and other one-off costs of about $0.8 billion linked mainly to separating Essential Home, with most of that bill due in 2026; any miss on costs, or weaker demand in key categories, could weigh on sentiment. (Investegate)
The broader FTSE 100 was up about 0.2% in early trade, leaving Reckitt roughly tracking the market after its recent climb. (Investing.com UK)
