Online Vacation Center Signals Confidence with Dividend and Insider Buyback

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – January 02, 2026 – Online Vacation Center Holdings Corp. (OTCQX: ONVC) has signaled strong confidence in its financial standing and future prospects, announcing a cash dividend for its shareholders and a significant share repurchase from key insiders. The moves are a notable strategic pivot for the 50-year-old travel company, suggesting a robust outlook amid a dynamic leisure market.

The Florida-based holding company, one of the nation's largest cruise retailers, declared a cash dividend of $0.02 per share. This dividend is scheduled to be paid on May 15, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2026. Alongside the dividend, the company disclosed it has repurchased 100,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $2.50 per share, for a total expenditure of $250,000.

“We are pleased to announce this dividend,” said Stephen A. Rudner, President of Online Vacation Center Holdings Corp., in the company's official statement. “The Board felt that the Company’s performance and balance sheet has warranted this dividend.” The company confirmed it would use a portion of its existing cash and investments to fund the share repurchases.

A Return to Shareholder Payouts

The declaration of a cash dividend is particularly significant as it marks the company’s first such payout since 2019. Prior to a multi-year hiatus, Online Vacation Center Holdings had a history of issuing annual dividends, with its last payment being $0.04 per share in April 2019. The company's investor relations materials note that while the Board of Directors considers dividends, it has not adopted a formal, ongoing policy. Therefore, the decision to reinstate a dividend now serves as a powerful signal of the board's conviction in the firm's sustained profitability and healthy cash flow.

This move comes after a period of significant volatility and subsequent recovery in the global travel industry. As a major player in cruise retail, Online Vacation Center is directly tied to the health of the tourism sector. The resumption of dividends suggests that management believes the company has successfully navigated the post-pandemic landscape and is now in a position to consistently return capital to its investors. While the $0.02 per share amount is modest, its symbolic value, representing a return to a pre-pandemic shareholder return practice, is substantial for investors monitoring the company's trajectory.

Unpacking the Insider Share Repurchase

Perhaps more telling than the dividend is the nature of the simultaneous share repurchase. The company bought back 100,000 shares from two specific parties: 50,000 from the Online Vacation Center Holdings Corp Trust Agreement, with founder and CEO Edward B. Rudner serving as Trustee, and 50,000 from Deanna Rudner, his wife. This transaction is not an open-market buyback but a targeted repurchase from the company’s founding family.

This action is part of a well-established pattern. A review of the company's recent history reveals that strategic repurchases involving the Rudner family are a consistent feature of its capital allocation strategy. For instance, in July 2024, the company repurchased 100,000 shares each from Edward and Deanna Rudner as part of a larger buyback. In May 2025, both were significant participants in a tender offer. Going back further to January 2020, the company executed a major repurchase of over one million shares from five shareholders, all of whom were trusts or members of the Rudner family.

This recurring strategy appears to serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it provides a structured mechanism for providing liquidity to the founding family. Secondly, and more importantly for outside investors, it functions as a strong vote of confidence from the individuals who know the company best. The repurchase price of $2.50 per share is notably higher than the stock's recent trading levels, which hovered around $2.13. By buying back shares at a premium to the market price, the company's leadership is effectively stating its belief that the stock is undervalued.

Navigating the Travel Industry's New Waters

These financial maneuvers are situated within the broader context of a resurgent travel industry. As a holding company with a diversified portfolio that includes Online Vacation Center, Dunhill Vacations News, Luxury Link, and an Expedia Cruises franchise, ONVC is well-positioned to capitalize on the sustained demand for leisure travel. Its core business as a cruise retailer places it at the heart of one of the travel sector's most resilient segments.

With over 50 years in business, the company has weathered numerous economic cycles and industry shifts. Its portfolio also includes non-travel assets like Golf Around the World, which sells golf training aids online, providing a degree of diversification. The decision to enhance shareholder returns at this juncture reflects a strategy of leveraging its stable market position and strong balance sheet to reward long-term investors and consolidate ownership.

Market Position and Future Outlook

Since voluntarily deregistering its stock with the SEC in 2011, Online Vacation Center Holdings Corp. has traded on the OTCQX Market under the Alternative Reporting Standard. This listing means it receives less attention from Wall Street analysts compared to peers like Expedia or TripAdvisor, which trade on major exchanges. Consequently, its valuation metrics can appear disconnected from the broader sector. However, the company's financial announcements provide direct insight into its operational health.

Recent data indicates the company generated approximately $18.19 million in revenue and $761,330 in earnings, with shareholder returns over the past year outperforming both the US Hospitality industry and the broader US market. The combination of a resumed dividend and a strategic, premium-priced insider buyback could serve as a catalyst for the market to re-evaluate the company's stock. These actions underscore a disciplined capital allocation strategy focused on delivering tangible value, a message likely to resonate with investors looking for stable, cash-generative businesses in the thriving travel sector.