Samsung Electronics plans record shareholder return of up to $79.6 bil.

Samsung Electronics has announced its intention to return up to 110 trillion won, equivalent to $79.6 billion, to shareholders this year, setting a new record for the largest payout by a domestic company. The firm's board approved a shareholder-return plan amounting to roughly 90 trillion won to 110 trillion won for the year 2026, which includes approximately 30 trillion won in cash dividends scheduled for distribution in the third quarter.

The precise amount and conditions will be determined during a board meeting scheduled for late October. This figure surpasses the company's previous annual peak of about 20.3 trillion won in 2020 by nearly fivefold, and is more than nine times its standard annual dividend of 9.8 trillion won under the company's current three-year strategy.

This substantial payout is in line with the company's final year of its shareholder-return policy, which spans from 2024 to 2026. During this period, Samsung Electronics has committed to allocating 50% of its free cash flow towards shareholder returns. The company's management expressed the belief that this significant return will effectively distribute the benefits of the firm's growth among shareholders, thereby fostering a self-perpetuating cycle of growth and enhanced shareholder value.