Number of Listed Companies Announcing Cash Dividends Doubled Last Year

The number of listed companies that publicly announced cash dividends doubled last year compared with the previous year. The total amount of dividends also increased by more than 60 percent. 

According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the number of listed companies publishing cash dividends went up to a total of 253 last year, an increase of 113 from the previous year. 

The total amount of dividends grew by 3.9025 trillion won (US$3.58 billion) to 10.2751 trillion won (US$9.42 billion). 

Among them, in the KOSPI, the number of companies announcing cash dividends increased by 59 to a total of 145, and its total amount of dividends went up by 3.6785 trillion won (US$3.37 billion) to a total of 9.8774 trillion won (US$9.06 billion).

In the KOSDAQ market, the number of companies posting cash dividends increased by 54 to a total of 108, and its total amount increased by 224 billion won (US$205.47 million) to 397.7 billion won (US$364.8 million). Particularly, the dividends of large companies increased. 

The KRX concluded, “The trend of the growing amount of cash dividends of listed companies is caused by the companies’ will to settle the shareholder capitalism, which responds to the government’s policy to increase the dividends, along with the growing interest of investors in the dividends.”