Abu Dhabi firms paid AED 20.89 bln in dividends in 2016 with 5.1% yield

Companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) distributed AED 20.89 billion in cash dividends for fiscal year 2016, marking a decline of 4 percent year-on-year (YoY), according to data compiled by Argaam.

The aggregate dividends accounted for 60 percent of the market’s combined earnings in the same period.

Dividend issuers increased to 45 firms in the same period, from 43 in 2015.

The aggregate dividend yield for 2016 decreased to 5.1 percent from 5.5 percent a year earlier. Adjusting for all listed companies, the dividend yield would stand at 4.8 percent.

Dividends accounted for 48 percent of the companies’ aggregate net profit for 2015, hurt by higher market capitalization of dividend issuers, along with lower payouts.

Meanwhile, five firms distributed bonus shares – no change when compared to 2015.

* Dividend includes First Gulf Bank’s dividend before merger with NBAD

Among the top ten firms by market capital, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) had the highest dividend yield of 6.3 percent on AED 0.25 dividend per share.

National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah (RAKBANK) came second with a yield of 6.2 percent, followed by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) with 5.9 percent.