The dividend payouts distributed by Chinese A-share listed companies in 2024 had reached a record high of approximately 2.39 trillion yuan (330 billion U.S. dollars) as of December 23, marking an over 11 percent year-on-year increase, according to Wind Data.
The number of dividend-paying companies has significantly increased since May this year, particularly in the September to December period, when the number grew by more than 100 percent year on year.
In terms of the number of dividend-paying companies by industry, the top five sectors in 2024 are machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, basic chemicals, electronics, and power equipment.
Meanwhile, in terms of total dividend amounts, the banking, petrochemical, food and beverage, non-bank financial, and telecommunications sectors rank in the top five.
"Many listed companies have set record-high dividend payouts this year. Improved operating performance and a relatively positive market trend have been the key factors enabling the companies to actively distribute dividends," said Yang Chao, chief strategy analyst at China Galaxy Securities.
Another noticeable trend of the A-share market in 2024 is the increased frequency of dividend payouts. According to data from the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, 481 dividend payouts were disclosed in the Shanghai bourse during the mid-year period, marking a 354 percent year-on-year increase, with some companies distributing dividends two to three times within the year.
Meanwhile, the Shenzhen bourse disclosed 464 dividend payouts, registering a 287 percent year-on-year increase. "Broadly defined mid-year dividends, including quarterly, semi-annual, and special dividends, differ from the traditional annual dividend model. Companies that distribute dividends more than once a year can optimize payout rhythms to provide tangible returns to investors, enhance investment appeal, and encourage long-term investment and holding," said Tian Lihui, dean with the Nankai University Institute of Finance and Development.
Dividend payouts of Chinese A-share listed firms hit record high of 2.39 trillion yuan
Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei-Sarraf on Saturday condemned the United States and Israel for attacking Iranian academic institutions and research facilities, saying that more than 30 universities across the country have been directly targeted since the war started in late February.
The official made the condemnation when speaking to reporters at the site of the damaged Shahid Beheshti University in the Iranian capital Tehran.
Simaei-Sarraf said five university professors and more than 60 students had been killed in the strikes so far, describing attacks on Iranian infrastructure as "crimes against humanity."
Those killed include Saeed Shamghadri, an associate professor at the Iran University of Science and Technology. "Since the war started, five university professors, including Professor Shamghadri, and more than 60 university students have been killed. As I mentioned before, more than 30 universities in Iran have been attacked. It is unbelievable that in an era when democratic values, rights, international law, and human rights are being promoted, the most obvious of these rights are being trampled, violated, and attacked," said Simaei-Sarraf.
An U.S.-Israeli air raid hit the laser and plasma research center of the Shahid Beheshti University on Friday, destroying the interior of the entire building and shattering all the windows. The force of the strike also shattered almost all the windows on another building about 100 meters away from the explosion site.
A researcher at the university said it is incomprehensible that such a facility could become a target of attacks.
"You can see that there's neither any military personnel or military activity here. This is a place where only research was being conducted. Why did it become a target of attacks? What was the motive for this crime?" Azimi, the researcher, said in an interview with China Media Group.
Since the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran started, the Iranian government has repeatedly denounced the two countries for targeting the country's academic institutions and research facilities, calling such attacks serious war crimes.
Iranian official condemns U.S.-Israeli strikes on universities
