The total of 385 firms listed on The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Market Alternative Investment (mai) announced dividend payment performance for 2014 with a combined dividend payment of THB 358.12 billion (approx. USD 10.85 billion) (as of March 13, 2015), representing dividend payout ratio of 54 percent, higher than a year earlier, while stock dividend payment reached new high of over THB 10 billion.
The top five sectors paying higher dividends from a year earlier by value, in descending order, were Information & Communications Technology, Banking, Food & Beverage, Property Development and Electronic Components.
SET Executive Vice President Chanitr Charnchainarong said that, as of March 13, 2015, the 385 companies paying dividends included 318 SET-listed firms with dividends of THB 355.2 billion and 67 mai-listed companies with dividends worth THB 2.92 billion, totaling THB 358.12 billion. These payouts generated a 2014 dividend yield of three percent and dividend payout ratio of 54 percent (excluding property and infrastructure fund), compared to 48 percent a year earlier.
“While the dividend payments of Thai listed companies slightly decreased in value from a year earlier, the number of listed companies able to pay dividends rose and offered higher payout ratio. In addition, 53 firms gave stock dividends worth a total of THB 11.09 billion based on par value, considered an all time-high. These reflected their financial strengths to continuously generate dividends and manage cash flow, as well as increasing business value,” added Chanitr.
The five SET-listed firms which paid the highest dividends, in absolute amounts in descending order, were Advanced Info Service pcl (ADVANC), PTT pcl (PTT), Siam Commercial Bank pcl (SCB), PTT Exploration and Production pcl (PTTEP) and Total Access Communication pcl (DTAC), representing 34 percent of SET's total dividends by value.
Constituents in the SET High Dividend 30 Index (SETHD) paid 2014 dividends of THB 162.58 billion, giving a 3.5 percent dividend yield and a 50 percent dividend payout ratio.
The mai-listed firms which paid highest dividends, in absolute amounts in descending order, were Unimit Engineering pcl (UEC), Union Auction pcl (AUCT), Pylon pcl (PYLON), Forth Smart Service (FSMART), Salee Industry pcl (SALEE). Their total dividends accounted for 30 percent of mai's total dividends. Property & Construction and Technology Industries paid higher dividends from a year earlier by value.
There are more listed companies considering paying 2014 dividends at a later stage. For more information, please visit www.set.or.th
