PSE: Publicly listed firms paid P342.88B in dividends in 2020

Companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) have paid a total of P342.88 billion in cash dividends to their common stockholders in 2020, the local bourse operator said Thursday.

Citing data it compiled, the PSE said 105 of the 271 publicly-listed firms paid the said amount to its shareholders, which gave investors a yield of 2.50%.

Dividends payouts, however, were lower compared to 2019, since most business activities were subdued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, 115 to 268 PSE-listed firms paid P368.03 billion in cash dividends, also providing a yield of 2.50%.

“We are pleased that listed firms continued to pay attractive dividends in 2020 despite the disruptive impact of the pandemic to their operations and cash flow," PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon said. 

"These dividends provided investors additional income during one of the most financially challenging years in the history of Philippine business,” he added.

In particular, cash dividends paid to common stockholders by 29 of the 30 index stocks amounted to P157.05 billion or 1.76% yield and P178.52 billion or 1.85% yield in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The financials sector had the biggest dividend payout among the sectors last year, the PSE said.

Twelve of the 30 companies in this financial sector paid out a combined P159.05 billion in cash dividends.

“We hope that corporate profits will improve substantially this year, especially with the expected arrival of vaccines, so companies can continue to maintain or even increase their dividend payouts,” Monzon said. -NB, GMA News