{"id":471957,"date":"2021-04-06T11:03:29","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T15:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=471957"},"modified":"2021-04-06T11:03:29","modified_gmt":"2021-04-06T15:03:29","slug":"sp-dow-jones-indices-reports-u-s-indicated-dividend-payments-increased-18-0-billion-in-q1-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/sp-dow-jones-indices-reports-u-s-indicated-dividend-payments-increased-18-0-billion-in-q1-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"S&P Dow Jones Indices Reports U.S. Indicated Dividend Payments Increased $18.0 Billion in Q1 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

– Q1 2021 U.S. common dividend increases were $20.3 billion, the largest quarterly increase since Q1 2012’s $26.1 billion and up from $13.9 billion in Q4 2020, $8.4 billion in Q3 2020, $6.7 billion in Q2 2020 and $12.4 billion in Q1 2020.<\/h2>\n

– Q1 2021 U.S. common dividend decreases were $2.4 billion, down from $4.3 billion in Q4 2020, $10.8 billion in Q3 2020, $49.2 billion in Q2 2020, and $18.0 billion in Q1 2020.<\/h2>\n

– Net indicated dividend rate change increased $18.0 billion, compared to $9.5 billion in Q4 2020, -$2.3 billion in Q3 2020, -$42.5 billion in Q2 2020, and -$5.5 billion in Q1 2020.<\/h2>\n

– The median Q1 2021 dividend increase in the S&P 500 was 7.69%, up from 6.56% in Q4 2020, 4.17% in Q3 2020’s, 4.84% in Q2 2020, and 7.50% in Q1 2020.<\/h2>\n

PR Newswire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\n NEW YORK<\/span>, April 6, 2021<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ —\u00a0S&P Dow Jones Indices announced today that indicated dividend net changes (increases less decreases) for U.S. domestic common stocks increased $18.0 billion<\/span><\/b>during Q1 2021, compared to $9.5 billion<\/span> in Q4 2020, –$2.3 billion<\/span> in Q3 2020, –$42.5 billion<\/span> in Q2 2020, –$5.5 billion<\/span> in Q1 2020, and a gain of $10.6 billion<\/span> in Q4 2019. <\/p>\n

For Q1 2021, aggregate increases amounted to $20.3 billion<\/span>, the largest quarterly increase since Q1 2012’s $26.1 billion<\/span>, up 46.9% from Q4 2020’s $13.9 billion<\/span>, and up 63.7% from the $12.4 billion<\/span> increase in Q1 2020. Aggregate dividend cuts decreased 45.1% to $2.4 billion<\/span> from Q4 2020’s $4.3 billion<\/span> in cuts, and down 86.8% from the $18.0 billion<\/span> in cuts for Q1 2020.<\/p>\n

For the 12-month March 2021<\/span> period, the net dividend rate fell $17.3 billion<\/span>, compared to a gain of $28.2 billion<\/span> for 12-month March 2020<\/span> period, as increases were $49.3 billion<\/span> versus $52.5 billion<\/span>, and decreases were $66.6 billion<\/span> compared to $24.4 billion<\/span> for 2020 period. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“Companies that suspended their dividends have started to pay again, while others who decreased their dividends or left them unchanged in 2020 have resumed increasing payments,” said Howard Silverblatt<\/span>, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “<\/b>The dollar amount of dividend increases in U.S. common stocks in Q1 2021 was the largest since Q1 of 2012 as reductions significantly declined in the quarter.” <\/p>\n

Silverblatt continued, “given the accelerating vaccine schedule and re-openings, projections call for record profits in the second half of this year, which, if the virus does not re-emerge, could fuel the way for more companies to feel secure about starting and increasing dividends.\u00a0 For the S&P 500, 2021 is well on its way to a record payout, with a mid-single digit gain for the year in actual cash in shareholders pockets.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n S&P 500 Dividends
<\/u>
\n <\/b>On a per share basis, S&P 500 Q1 2021 dividend payments for the S&P 500 increased 0.2% to $14.68<\/span> from Q4 2020’s $14.64<\/span> and were down 4.2% from the Q1 2020 record $15.32<\/span> payment. On an aggregate basis, index components paid $123.9 billion<\/span> in dividends in the quarter, up from $121.6 billion<\/span> in Q4 2020 and down from the record $127.0 billion<\/span> in Q1 2020.\u00a0 For the 12-month March 2021<\/span> period, the index paid $57.63<\/span> per share, down from the prior period’s $59.58<\/span>, with an aggregate $480.1 billion<\/span> to shareholders, compared to $495.1 billion<\/span>. <\/p>\n

Additional findings from S&P Dow Jones Indices’ quarterly analysis of U.S. dividend activity include:<\/p>\n

\n
\n Dividend Increases (defined as either an increase or initiation in dividend payments):<\/u>
\n <\/b>\n <\/p>\n