Winmark Corporation (WINA) will raise the quarterly dividend by 80 percent to 45 cents per share in 2021. Last year the company paid a special dividend of $3.00 per share in December 2020. Earlier in 2020 Winmark raised its quarterly dividend by 400.0 percent to 25 cents per share, following a cut of 80 percent earlier this year because of COVID-19 by the retail store franchisor. Last year the company announced the 9th consecutive year of dividend increases, prior to the cut related to the corona virus.

The special dividend will be paid June 1, 2021 to shareholders of record on the close of business on May 12, 2021. A regular annual rate of $1.80 per share yields 0.9% at a stock price of $196. 

Winmark Corporation is a franchisor of five retail store concepts that buy, sell and trade gently used merchandise and a limited amount of new merchandise to customers. The company's franchised retail brands are Plato's Closet, Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore and Music Go Round. Winmark operates franchised stores across the United States and Canada and also provides franchise consulting and advisory services through Winmark Franchise Partners. Also the company operates a middle-market equipment leasing business through our wholly owned subsidiary, Winmark Capital Corporation. Additionally, Winmark operates a small-ticket financing business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Wirth Business Credit, Inc. Winmark cut its dividend in 2020 because of COVID-19.