** Smart Sand's shares up 14% premarket to $2.28, highest since mid-Jul, after co announced stock buyback and declared special dividend

** Frac and industrial sand supply firm said late Thurs board authorized $10 mln repurchase program through Apr 3, 2026

** Co to pay special cash dividend of 10 cents/sh, payable on Oct 28 to holders as of Oct 15

** CEO Charles Young said focus on reducing costs, maintaining low leverage levels and increasing operational efficiency gave co opportunity to initiate the buyback and declare the dividend

** SND has ~42.93 mln shares outstanding for ~$86 mln market cap and ~30.64 mln shares of public float, per LSEG

** Through Thurs, stock up 3.6% YTD

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)

((lance.tupper@thomsonreuters.com lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))