Samsung Electronics is expected to carry out shareholder returns of about 90 trillion to 110 trillion won this year. It will first pay about 30 trillion won in cash dividends, including the regular third-quarter dividend this year, and will finalize the method and size for returning the remaining funds in Jan. next year.
Samsung Electronics on the 21st disclosed "Estimated size and implementation plan for 2026 shareholder returns" with these details.
The remaining funds for shareholder returns that Samsung Electronics expects for this year are about 90 trillion to 110 trillion won. This is the amount obtained by subtracting 29.3 trillion won in shareholder returns already carried out in 2024–2025 from 50% of the total free cash flow (FCF) generated over the three years from 2024 to 2026. The final return amount may vary depending on this year's business results and investment scale.
Samsung Electronics has been implementing a policy of returning 50% of the total FCF generated over the three years from 2024 through this year to shareholders. It pays regular dividends of 980 billion won each year, and if there are remaining funds after excluding the regular dividends from 50% of the three-year FCF, they will be returned additionally.
Shareholder returns carried out in 2024–2025 total 29.3 trillion won. Cash dividends account for 20.9 trillion won, and share buybacks and cancellations account for 8.4 trillion won.
Samsung Electronics plans to first pay about 30 trillion won in cash dividends, including the regular third-quarter quarterly dividend this year. The specific size and details of the dividends will be finalized at the board meeting to be held at the end of Oct.
The method of returning the funds remaining after the 30 trillion won dividends has not yet been decided. Samsung Electronics will make a final decision on the remaining size of shareholder returns and specific implementation plans at a board meeting scheduled for the end of Jan. next year after completing this year's settlement of account. Cash dividends and treasury share buybacks and cancellations will be considered comprehensively.
When calculating FCF over the three years, Samsung Electronics deducts advances received for long-term supply agreements (LTA) for memory products, which have the nature of deposits, and expenditures related to stock-based compensation for employee performance bonuses. The company said the shareholder return size presented this time is forward-looking information derived based on current financial projections, the business environment, and business plans, and may change depending on actual operating results, investment execution, and cash flow.