Total payouts were £16.4bn during the first quarter of 2026
Analysts expect profits to be boosted by weak dollar and Trump administration’s tax and spending plans
Snoozefest or losefest?
One think-tank calls for basic rate to rise to 16.5%, which would generate an extra £1.5bn for Treasury
Regular payouts dip 0.4% in 2024 as London market follows US in repurchasing shares
Level last seen in 2002 as tech-fuelled equity rally throws up red flag on ‘Fed model’ for comparing valuations
Dividends have exceeded pre-crisis levels while lenders have topped up returns with buybacks
First-time publicly traded companies pay out more than privately held rivals since privatisation
Twenty LSE-listed investment trusts have increased their dividends for at least 20 years in a row.
Share prices swing as high valuations and uncertain outlook put investors on edge
Ofwat draws up proposal for ‘recovery regime’ to avoid nationalisation of Thames Water and other groups
In 32 years since privatisation £78bn has been paid out of utilities
Also in today’s newsletter, US earnings look fine (but only fine)
Meta’s move to start the payouts could signal an upcoming switch in investor mindset
Social media giant joins Apple and Microsoft in offering payout to placate investors concerned about big R&D spend
Oil major announces further $3.5bn of share buybacks as 2023 profits top $28bn
Yet UK company payouts outstrip returns on 10-year gilts
But nine companies out of 10 have raised or held payouts steady
Net asset value financing adds new layer of debt amid surging borrowing costs
Problems at Thames show how sector was reshaped by financial engineering
(Does this mean AI isn’t going to save us after all?)
Companies analysis from our sister publication
Payouts to rise to $1.64tn in 2023 boosted by special bonuses from likes of Ford and VW
Payments include internal transfers between complex web of holding companies
CEO says bank better off returning money to shareholders but analysts expect lender to examine acquisitions
