Listed companies of South Korea’s 10 biggest conglomerates are expected to deliver record-high dividend of more than 15 trillion won this year, accelerating from their combined payout of 46 trillion won ($40.9 billion) over the last five years, a research showed.

According to data released by Chaebul.com on Monday, listed firms under Korea’s 10 largest groups by assets have paid out 45.921 trillion won in interim and end-year dividends from 2012 to 2016.

Korean companies usually regarded stingy in dividend payout have recently turned eager to shake off the stigma. Dividend payouts increased from 6.742 trillion won in 2012 to 7.374 trillion won in 2013, 9.308 trillion won in 2014, 10.752 trillion won in 2015, and 12.220 trillion won in 2016.

The gain was mostly led by Samsung Electronics which over recent years has turned aggressive in sharing its colossal profits with shareholders. Samsung Electronics was accountable for the lion’s share of 40.4 percent with its five-year payout totaling 18.6 trillion won. In the first half this year, it rewarded more than 1.9 trillion won to its shareholders.

Hyundai Motor came second with 8.5 trillion won, followed by SK with 7.2 trillion won, LG with 4.4 trillion won, Posco with 3.5 trillion won, Hanwha with 1.1 trillion won, GS with 1.1 trillion won, Lotte with 795.4 billion won, and Nonghyup with 380.7 billion won.

Hyundai Heavy Industries that has struggled amidst protracted downturn in ship demand could not afford to pay shareholders since 2014. Its total payout reached 320.9 billion won during the five-year period.

Posco topped in dividend payout ratio, or the returns to the shareholders relative to the net income of the company, with a share of 56.2 percent. Nonghyup was next with a ratio of 44.0 percent, GS 40.3 percent, LG 22.5 percent, SK 19.9 percent, Hanwha 19.0 percent, Samsung 12.9 percent, Hyundai Motor 10.3 percent, and Lotte 10.1 percent.

By Chung Seung-hwan and Lee Ha-yeon

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