World’s biggest companies return a record US$2 trillion to shareholders in dividends
Financial and technology firms powered a 7 per cent rise in global payouts, with 30 markets logging record dividend payments last year
Dividend payouts by the world’s largest listed companies climbed to a record US$2.09 trillion last year, driven by financial and technology firms as companies returned more cash to shareholders, according to US asset manager Capital Group.
Global dividends paid by the 1,600 publicly traded companies tracked by Capital Group rose 7 per cent year on year in 2025, according to a report released on Wednesday by the asset manager, which oversees US$3.3 trillion in assets.
So-called core dividends – adjusted for factors including exchange rates and one-off payments – increased 6 per cent, it said.
In Hong Kong, core dividends increased 8.5 per cent from a year earlier to US$25.5 billion in 2025, a total that exceeds a previous high set in 2017.
On the mainland, payouts rose 2.3 per cent as more companies moved away from the traditional single annual dividend in favour of two smaller payments, marking a significant shift in distribution practices.
“Dividend growth reached record levels in 2025 supported by robust earnings and broad-based strength across regions and sectors, with only limited pockets of weakness,” said Alexandra Haggard, head of asset class services for Europe and Asia-Pacific at Capital Group.