534 SET and mai-listed firms pay a combined 2018 dividends of THB 520 bln

Wednesday 26 December 2018 17:40
A total 534 companies listed on The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Market for Alternative Investment (mai) announced the 2018 dividend payment worth a total of THB 519.55 billion (approx. USD 15.74 billion), representing the average dividend yield of 3.31 percent.

SET Senior Executive Vice President Manpong Senanarong said the 2018 dividends paid by 534 listed companies rose 2.78 percent from a year earlier to THB 519.55 billion, as of December 12, 2018, of which 28 percent was paid by companies listed on Resources industry group. The dividend yield averaged 3.31 percent, with SET and mai-listed companies' averaging 3.13 percent and 2.66 percent, respectively. Property funds and real estate investment trusts, as well as infrastructure funds had the average dividend yield of 6.44 percent and 7.72 percent, respectively (excluding principal payment).

"The improving performance of Thai listed firms over the past months has enhanced the annual dividend payments to rise to over THB 500 billion. Most of the Thai listed firms delivered attractive returns, especially those in property funds and infrastructure funds. It is advantageous for investors to either invest directly in securities or via mutual funds," said Manpong.

The five SET-listed firms which paid the highest dividends, in descending order, were PTT pcl (PTT), The Siam Cement pcl (SCC), Advanced Info Service pcl (ADVANC), PTT Global Chemical pcl (PTTGC) and The Siam Commercial Bank pcl (SCB), with a combined THB 139.62 billion, or 29 percent of SET-listed companies' total dividends. Among the top 10 dividend-paying mai-listed companies, Forth Smart Service pcl (FSMART) paid the highest dividend and Sherwood Corporation (Thailand) pcl (SWC) paid the highest dividend yield.