• RLI issued a special dividend of $2 per share.
• The company issued a regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, representing a 12.5% increase.
• The board approved a new stock buyback program without expiry worth $250 million.

Shares of RLI Corp. (RLI) surged on Thursday after the insurance company hiked its regular dividend, declared special dividends, and announced a significant repurchase of its stock.

As of the writing, RLI stock was up more than 5%.

RLI’s Special Cash Dividend

The company said it will pay a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share, totaling roughly $184 million. It also issued a regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, a 12.5% increase over the prior quarter. 

Both dividends are payable on June 12, 2026, to shareholders of record as of May 29, 2026. RLI pointed out that it has hiked its regular dividend in each of the past 51 years.

RLI Board Approves New Buyback Program

The company’s board greenlit a new share buyback program with no expiry period to repurchase up to $250 million of outstanding common stock, citing the stock price as a key driver.

It is notable that RLI shares have fallen 22% so far this year, and more than 32% over the last 12 months, underperforming the S&P 500.

“This share repurchase program, special dividend, and 51st consecutive annual increase in our regular dividend reflect the strength of our business and our confidence in RLI’s long-term strategy,” said RLI Corp. President & CEO Craig W. Kliethermes. “These actions underscore our disciplined approach to capital management while maintaining the flexibility to invest in growth opportunities.”

What Do Retail Traders Think About RLI 

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment about RLI turned ‘bullish' from ‘neutral amid ‘normal’ message volumes over the last 24 hours.

Over 391,906 shares changed hands by 11:31 am ET on the New York Stock Exchange, trailing behind the stock’s three-month average trading volume of 766,627.

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.