Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. filed a Form 6-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2026, announcing that its Board of Directors resolved on that date to repurchase and subsequently cancel up to 35,000,000 shares of its common stock for up to ¥200,000,000,000.

Key Highlights

  • Repurchase cap: Up to 35,000,000 shares, representing 1.4% of total shares outstanding excluding treasury stock as of September 30, 2026.
  • Maximum spend: Up to ¥200,000,000,000 in aggregate repurchase price.
  • Repurchase window: November 16, 2026 through February 28, 2027, via market purchase utilizing trust method.
  • Cancellation scheduled: All repurchased shares are to be cancelled on March 23, 2027, pursuant to Article 178 of the Companies Act.
  • Existing treasury stock: As of September 30, 2026, MHFG held 28,245,707 treasury shares, with 2,414,586,287 total shares outstanding excluding treasury stock.
  • Shareholder return policy: According to the filing, MHFG uses "the total payout ratio of 50% or more as a guide" for share buybacks alongside a policy of "progressive increase of dividends per share."

Mizuho Board Authorizes November 2026 Buyback and March 2027 Cancellation

According to the filing, Mizuho Financial Group's Board of Directors resolved on November 13, 2026 to repurchase common stock under Article 156, Paragraph 1 of Japan's Companies Act, in accordance with Article 459, Paragraph 1 of that Act and Article 47 of MHFG's Articles of Incorporation. The repurchase is capped at 35,000,000 shares and an aggregate price of ¥200,000,000,000, with purchases to be executed in the market through a trust method between November 16, 2026 and February 28, 2027.

The filing states that MHFG "maintains a capital policy pursuing the optimal balance between capital adequacy, growth investment and enhancement of shareholder returns." The company disclosed that the decision to execute buybacks is based on "business results, capital adequacy, our stock price and the opportunities for growth investment," with a total payout ratio of 50% or more serving as a guide. The filing notes that this buyback is part of the company's stated policy of "flexible and intermittent share buybacks" alongside progressive dividend increases.

All shares acquired under the repurchase program are to be cancelled in full on March 23, 2027, as the filing states that "all of the common stock repurchased as stated in item 2 above" will be cancelled. The actual number of shares to be cancelled will be announced after the repurchase is complete, according to the filing. The document was signed by Makoto Samejima, identified as Senior Managing Corporate Executive and Group CFO. The filing also contains forward-looking statements, which the company notes "do not represent any guarantee by management of future performance."

What Was Disclosed

Mizuho Financial Group disclosed a Board resolution authorizing the repurchase of up to 35,000,000 common shares for up to ¥200,000,000,000 between November 16, 2026 and February 28, 2027, with cancellation of all repurchased shares scheduled for March 23, 2027.