Dividend payouts hit the first quarter record, but the outlook is rocky

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LONDON – Mining and oil companies jumped 11% to pay dividends, leading to a record প্রথম 302.5 billion in the first quarter, according to a closely watched global report, although it warned that companies would face a growing number of challenges in the coming months.

Ukraine’s war, geopolitical tensions, high energy and commodity prices, rapid inflation and rising interest rates could all affect the company’s dividend prospects, according to Janus Henderson, a British asset management group.

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“These challenges mean more uncertainty that could affect corporate decision making. The impact on dividends may continue after 2022, but it’s important to remember that dividends are much less volatile than gains, “said Jane Shomek, client portfolio manager at Janus Henderson’s Global Equity Income.

Shareholder payments have risen again since the collapse during the epidemic.

All sectors of the Janus Henderson Index saw higher dividends year-over-year in the first quarter, with mining and oil companies recording the fastest growth, both nearly a third.

BHP topped the list of the world’s largest dividend payers this quarter, followed by the Swiss pharmaceuticals group Novartis.

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Danish shipping group Maersk was the third largest, largest single dividend growth record as the company benefited from disruptions in the global supply chain, the report said.

Overall, 94% of companies in the index increased or maintained dividends, and double-digit growth in each region.

Janus Henderson expects global dividends to reach $ 1.54 trillion by 2022, up 4.6% from $ 1.47 trillion in 2021 and a fifth higher than by 2020. Payouts have more than doubled since 2009, when its global dividend index began. (Reporting by Lucy Raitano, edited by Beach Chatterjee and Mark Potter)