Published on : 25/08/2022 – 06:56
According to asset manager Janus Henderson’s quarterly report, released Wednesday, August 24, $544.8 billion was returned to shareholders by 1,200 companies in the second quarter, i.e. between April and June 2022.
This is a new world record. During the second quarter, dividends paid to shareholders increased by 11% compared to the same period last year to reach 544.8 billion euros, following an already successful start to the year.
Indeed, the first quarter, deemed normally calm, according to the Janus Henderson report, had also posted a record 11%. It goes without saying that the 1,200 companies that distributed this money made colossal profits last year.
Four French companies in the top 20
These results mean that growth rose by more than 19%, and even nearly 30% in Europe and the United Kingdom. It is mainly driven by companies in the oil sector, with the Brazilian Pétrobras, the mining sector and the Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto, but also the automotive sector, with the German Mercedes Benz or even the banking sector with BNP Paribas or the German insurer Alianz.
In addition, four French companies are in the top 20 of the largest payers of the quarter, with BNP Paribas (6th), Sanofi (10th), Axa (12th) and LVMH (14th). They had accumulated 35 billion euros in net profits in 2021.
2022 is shaping up to be a good year for shareholders as Janus Henderson expects dividends to reach $1.56 trillion, up regarding 6% from last year.
►Also read: Dividends from CAC 40 companies are on the rise once more