KANZHUN LIMITED Announces Shareholder Return Target Through Dividend Distribution and Extension and Upsizing of Share Repurchase Program

Rhea-AI Summary

Kanzhun Limited (NYSE:BZ) announced an amended share repurchase program and a shareholder-return target. The Board increased buyback authorization to up to US$400 million through August 28, 2027, and reaffirmed a dividend approach to allocate no less than 50% of adjusted net income for each of the next three years starting 2026 for dividends and repurchases, subject to Board discretion and market conditions.

The measures signal management’s confidence and a focus on returning cash to shareholders while retaining flexibility.

Positive

• Buyback increased to US$400 million through August 28, 2027
• Dividend framework targeting ≥50% of adjusted net income for 2026–2028
• Three-year commitment to allocate funds for dividends and repurchases starting 2026

Negative

• Dividend and repurchase actions are discretionary and not guaranteed
• Payout metric uses adjusted net income (non-GAAP), reducing comparability

News Market Reaction – BZ

-5.91%

3 alerts

-5.91% News Effect

-$440M Valuation Impact

$7.01B Market Cap

17K Volume

On the day this news was published, BZ declined 5.91%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Our momentum scanner triggered 3 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $440M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $7.01B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Buyback authorization: US$400 million Dividend & buyback allocation: No less than 50% Program term end: August 28, 2027 +5 more

8 metrics

Buyback authorization US$400 million Total shares (including ADSs) over program term through August 28, 2027

Dividend & buyback allocation No less than 50% Of adjusted net income allocated annually for dividends and repurchases, 2026–2028

Program term end August 28, 2027 Extended end date for amended share repurchase program

Current price $14.55 Price before news; 1.39% above prior close

52-week high $25.26 Shares trading 42.4% below this level pre-announcement

52-week low $13.28 Shares 9.56% above this level pre-announcement

Market capitalization $6,673,472,810 Equity value based on pre-news trading level

Board meeting date March 18, 2026 Date of approval of amended repurchase program and shareholder return target

Market Reality Check

Price: $13.69 Vol: Volume 4,402,452 is at 1....

normal vol

$13.69 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,402,452 is at 1.13x the 20-day average, showing elevated interest ahead of the announcement. normal

Technical Shares at $14.55 are trading below the $20.17 200-day moving average and 42.4% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

BZ showed a modest pre-news gain of 1.39% with slightly elevated volume, while m...

1 Up

BZ showed a modest pre-news gain of 1.39% with slightly elevated volume, while momentum data flagged only BIDU moving up 3.35% and no peers moving in the same direction as the scanner’s target direction. Broader peers like SNAP, BILI, and Zillow names showed mixed moves, pointing to stock-specific factors rather than a sector-wide shift.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: 2026-03-06 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
2026-03-06	Earnings date notice	Neutral	-2.6%	Announcement of Q4 and FY2025 results release date and conference call.
2026-02-20	Buyback execution update	Positive	+1.6%	Disclosure of over RMB340M spent in 2026 and ongoing US$250M authorization.
2026-02-11	Buyback execution update	Positive	-1.9%	Additional RMB40M deployed, lifting 2026 repurchases to nearly RMB260M.
2026-02-02	Buyback continuation	Positive	+1.5%	Over RMB20M repurchased, cumulative more than RMB113M in two weeks.
2026-01-29	Buyback continuation	Positive	+0.4%	Over RMB20M buyback under existing US$250M authorization through August 2026.

Pattern Detected

Recent buyback-related announcements have produced small, mixed price reactions, indicating that shareholder return news has not consistently driven strong moves.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, BZ has repeatedly highlighted shareholder return actions. From January 29–February 20, 2026, the company disclosed multiple buyback updates, deploying over RMB113 million and then increasing cumulative 2026 repurchases to more than RMB340 million under a US$250 million authorization. Price reactions around these buyback updates ranged between roughly -2% and +2%. Today’s expanded authorization and explicit payout target extend this shareholder-return narrative.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -5.9% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite enhanced capit...

Analysis

The stock moved -5.9% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite enhanced capital-return guidance would contrast with generally constructive responses to prior buyback updates, where moves clustered within a few percentage points. While the company raised its total authorization to US$400 million and outlined a commitment of at least 50% of adjusted net income to payouts, the shares trading 42.4% below the 52-week high could signal lingering concerns over growth, earnings quality, or broader sentiment toward the name.

Key Terms

share repurchase program, dividend policy, adjusted net income, non-GAAP financial measure

4 terms

share repurchase program financial

"approved an amendment to its existing share repurchase program and a shareholder return target"

A share repurchase program is when a company buys back its own shares from the marketplace. This reduces the total number of shares available, which can increase the value of each remaining share and signal confidence in the company's prospects. For investors, it often suggests that the company believes its stock is undervalued or that it has extra cash to return to shareholders.

dividend policy financial

"the Company approved an annual dividend policy (the “Dividend Policy”), pursuant to which the Board intends"

A dividend policy is a company’s rule for how it shares profits with shareholders versus keeping them to grow the business. Think of it like a household deciding each month how much to spend, save, or invest: the policy determines how much cash investors can expect as regular income, how stable that income is likely to be, and what the company prioritizes—paying returns now or funding future growth. Investors use it to gauge income reliability and management’s confidence in the business.

adjusted net income financial

"allocate, for each of the next three years starting from 2026, no less than 50% of the Company’s adjusted net income"

Adjusted net income is a company's reported profit after removing unusual, one-time, or non-operational items so the number reflects the business’s regular earning power. Investors use it like a cleaned-up scorecard — similar to judging a player’s season performance without a few fluke games — to compare companies or assess trends without being misled by rare gains or losses that won’t affect future cash flow.

non-GAAP financial measure financial

"adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure) of the preceding fiscal year for distribution"

A non-GAAP financial measure is a way companies present their financial results that excludes certain expenses or income to show how they believe their core business is performing. It matters because it can give a clearer picture of how the company is really doing, but it can also be used to make results look better than they actually are.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

BEIJING, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KANZHUN LIMITED (the "Company") today announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) has approved an amendment to its existing share repurchase program and a shareholder return target.

On March 18, 2026, the Board approved amendments to the existing share repurchase program, increasing the total authorization under the program to repurchase up to US$400 million of the Company's shares (including ADSs) over the extended term of the program through August 28, 2027, as a sign of confidence in the Company's continued growth in the future.

In August 2025, the Company approved an annual dividend policy (the “Dividend Policy”), pursuant to which the Board intends to, subject to its discretion, declare and distribute a dividend each year in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and applicable laws and regulations.

Under the Dividend Policy, and subject to the Board’s final determination and the prevailing market conditions, the Company currently expects to allocate, for each of the next three years starting from 2026, no less than 50% of the Company’s adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure) of the preceding fiscal year for distribution of dividends and share repurchases. The Board may adjust its share repurchase and dividend plan at its discretion based on financial performance, capital requirements, market conditions, and other relevant factors, and will provide timely updates to shareholders of the Company as and when appropriate in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

These initiatives underscore the management’s confidence in the Company’s long-term growth and reflect its strong commitment to sharing its growth with shareholders, delivering sustainable value and reinforcing its dedication to shareholder returns.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements which are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About KANZHUN LIMITED

KANZHUN LIMITED operates the leading online recruitment platform BOSS Zhipin in China. The Company connects job seekers and enterprise users in an efficient and seamless manner through its highly interactive mobile app, a transformative product that promotes two-way communication, focuses on intelligent recommendations, and creates new scenarios in the online recruiting process. Benefiting from its large and diverse user base, BOSS Zhipin has developed powerful network effects to deliver higher recruitment efficiency and drive rapid expansion.

For more information, please visit https://ir.zhipin.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

KANZHUN LIMITED
Investor Relations
Email: ir@kanzhun.com

PIACENTE FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS
Email: kanzhun@tpg-ir.com

FAQ

What did Kanzhun (BZ) announce about its share repurchase program on March 18, 2026?

The Board approved expanding the repurchase authorization to up to US$400 million through August 28, 2027. According to the company, this amendment extends the program term and increases the total buyback authorization as a sign of confidence.

How will Kanzhun's March 2026 dividend policy affect shareholder returns for 2026–2028?

Kanzhun expects to allocate no less than 50% of adjusted net income each year for three years starting 2026. According to the company, allocations will fund dividends and share repurchases, subject to Board final determination and market conditions.

Is Kanzhun's declared payout guaranteed under the new policy (BZ)?

No, the payout is not guaranteed; distributions remain at the Board’s discretion. According to the company, the Board will consider financial performance, capital needs, and market conditions before declaring dividends or executing buybacks.

What timeframe did Kanzhun set for the increased buyback authorization (BZ)?

The expanded repurchase program runs through August 28, 2027 with up to US$400 million authorized. According to the company, the extension lengthens the term and raises the ceiling for share repurchases.

Does Kanzhun use GAAP or non-GAAP measures to determine payouts under the new policy (BZ)?

Payouts are based on adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, rather than GAAP net income. According to the company, this adjusted metric will be the basis for calculating the minimum allocation for distributions.

How might the US$400 million buyback and dividend target impact Kanzhun shareholders (BZ)?

The initiatives could increase shareholder returns through repurchases and dividends if executed as planned. According to the company, actual impact will depend on Board decisions, financial performance, and prevailing market conditions.