Published at: The Financial Express, August 18, 2019
The listed multinational companies (MNCs) have continued their dominance in distributing dividends.
The MNCs were the majority in the chart of top 20 listed companies which distributed dividends for the year ended on June 30 and December 31, 2018.
Of top 20 companies, 10 were MNCs which disbursed dividends ranging between 75 per cent and 700 per cent.
On the other hand, the local companies, which were in the chart of top 20 companies, distributed dividends ranging between 48 per cent and 140 per cent.
Most of the MNCs disbursed cash dividends, while a few others distributed dividends in the form of both cash and stock dividend.
The MNCs which disbursed significant amount of dividends are Reckitt Bencksier (Bangladesh), Marico Bangladesh, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company, Linde Bangladesh, Bata Shoe Company, Grameenphone, Berger Paints Bangladesh, Renata and Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh.
Of these companies, Reckitt Bencksier (Bangladesh) disbursed 700 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company’s EPS, however, declined to Tk. 70.22 for 2018 from Tk. 80.63 reported in the previous year.
The amount of total cash dividend distributed by the Marico Bangladesh stood at 650 per cent, including 600 per cent interim dividend for the financial year 2018-2019.
The company’s EPS rose to Tk. 64.23 for the year ended on March 31, 2019 from Tk. 52.15 reported for the same period of the previous year.
Later, in July last the company declared 250 per cent interim cash dividend based on three months financials for the period ended on June 30, 2019.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) disbursed 530 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company, however, incurred a loss of Tk 52.75 per share for 2018 as against the EPS of Tk. 55.56 for the same period of the previous year.
British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company (BATBC) disbursed 500 per cent cash and issued 200 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company’s EPS stood at Tk. 166.87 for 2018 as against Tk. 130.50 reported for the same period of the previous year.
The amount of cash dividend distributed by Linde Bangladesh was 375 per cent for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company’s EPS rose to Tk. 65.96 for 2018 from Tk. 62.60 for the same period of the previous year.
Bata Shoe Company distributed a total of 345 per cent cash dividend, including 240 per cent interim cash dividend, for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company’s EPS declined to Tk. 72.79 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 from Tk. 82.34 for the same period of the previous year.
The total amount of cash dividend distributed by Grameenphone was 280 per cent, including 125 per cent interim cash dividend, for the year 2018.
The company reported its EPS of Tk. 26.04 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 against Tk. 20.31 for the same period of the previous year.
Renata distributed 95 per cent cash and issued15 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2018.
The company’s EPS rose to Tk. 44.35 for the year ended on June 30, 2018 from Tk. 38.24 for the same period of the previous year.
Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh distributed 75 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018. The company’s EPS was Tk. 14.33 for 2018 against Tk. 14.21 for the same period of the previous year.
Of the local companies, Meghna Petroleum disbursed 140 per cent cash dividend, Padma Oil Company 130 per cent cash, Jamuna Oil 130 per cent cash, ACI 115 per cent cash and 3.50 per cent stock, Eastern Lubricants 100 per cent cash, Apex Footwear 55 per cent cash, Pharma Aids 50 per cent, and Olympic Industries 48 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2018.
United Power Generation & Distribution Company has recommended 130 per cent cash and 10 per cent stock for June 30, 2019.
