Investors at the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), have raked in a total of about N732.91 billion in dividends, since the beginning of trading this year- that is, from 4th of January, 2021 till date.
This stunning fact was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NGX, Mr. Temi Popoola, through a report made available to the press on Monday in Lagos.
The report showed that so far, 58 companies across 10 sectors of quoted companies on the NGX have paid out N732.91 billion.
It was broken down as follows: financial services (21), consumer goods (seven), industrial goods (six), oil & gas (five), healthcare (four), services (four), ICT (three) and natural resources (two). Others are construction/real estate (two), agriculture (two) and conglomerates (two).
According to the report, overall, Dangote Cement has made the highest dividend payout, followed by MTN, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), BUA Cement, and Stanbic IBTC as the top five highest dividend payments so far.
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Dangote Cement, under industrial goods, paid N272.64 billion dividend; MTN Nigeria Communications, under ICT paid N92.61 billion and GTCO, under financial services paid N79.46 billion.
Also, BUA Cement, under industrial goods paid N69.99 billion, and Stanbic IBTC Holdings, under financial services paid N46.64 billion.
It said that the financial sector has the highest number of companies paying dividends and value of dividends, with GTCO leading the pack at a payout valued at N79.46 billion.
According to the report, in the consumer goods sector, Nestle leads amongst the seven companies with a payout of N28.12 billion while Fidson leads the healthcare sector with payout of N521.59 million.
Total Nigeria takes the lead in oil & gas at N2.06 billion and UACN leads the conglomerates with N3.45 billion.
Caverton takes the lead in services with N335.05 million while Okomu leads in the agriculture sector with N6.67 billion.
Popoola said that as part of efforts to spur activity in the market, the exchange had continued to be innovative and leverage technology to improve investors’ experience and recently, announced the release of its enhanced X-Mobile.
Popoola said: “The delivery of X-Mobile is in line with NGX’s strategic intent to provide an exchange that is easily accessible to stakeholders leveraging digital technology.
“X-Mobile, therefore, provides a platform to engage with existing and potential investors, who now have an increased appetite for data and detailed disclosure information to aid sound investment decisions.
“We are confident that the app will complement the NGX website and other NGX portals currently being used to provide information to market stakeholders,” he said.
On the other hand, the Divisional Head of Trading Business in the NGX, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, stated: “X-Mobile affirms our commitment to make financial services more inclusive and provide a superior customer experience in the access and use of capital.
“The app has, therefore, been enhanced to ensure that capital market players and potential investors have the requisite resources to make the most out of their engagement with the market.
“We believe that X-Mobile is on course to become the primary interface for local and international investors to stay abreast of market trends and domestic economic performance,” he noted.
‘’As a multi-asset securities exchange offering equities, fixed income and exchange-traded funds, NGX continues to make concerted efforts to attract investors to the market through its innovative products and services, engagement sessions, and investment education initiatives,’’ he concluded.
