COMPANIES listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) have collectively declared $43 million in dividends from January to April 2025, continuing a strong trend of delivering shareholder value.
This, according to a statement from SPX, reflected a 116 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when declared dividends totalled $19.95m.
Last year, a total of $76m was paid out across the entire 2024 calendar year — the highest annual dividend payout on SPX record.
So far this year, dividend payout on SPX has passed last year’s halfway mark.
SPX chief executive officer Sheraj Obeyesekere said the Fijian stock market has long demonstrated a strong culture of rewarding shareholders through consistent dividend payments.
“In addition to capital gains, where investors benefit by selling shares at a higher price than they purchased, dividends form a key part of the return for investors,” Mr Obeyesekere said.
“The Fijian market benefits from companies that regularly prioritise shareholder returns.”
He said between 2000 and the end of 2024, companies listed on SPX had paid out over $1b in dividends, highlighting the market’s long-term value for investors.
“Dividends are payments made by a company to its shareholders, typically drawn from its profits.
“They serve as a way for companies to share a portion of their earnings with investors, providing a return on their investment,” he said.
SUN Insurance is the latest company with a dividend declaration, declaring a second interim dividend of three cents a share for its 2024 financial year, which will be marked ex-benefit on May 13.
