Hanwha Corp., the holding company of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, will bolster shareholders’ value by raising dividend payout and improving financial structure after it raked in record earnings last year.
Hanwha said in a regulatory filing last Thursday that it has decided to increase cash dividend payout for 2016 to 600 won ($0.53) per common share, up 20 percent from a year ago. The increase would bump up the company’s total payout to shareholders to 57 billion won with the dividend yield of 1.7 percent based on its common share.
Last year, the company could not afford to raise its dividend payout due to cash-strapped Hanwha Engineering & Construction, its key subsidiary. However, the construction unit was back on track to see tangible results last year after losses for two straight years, easing uncertainty and allowing the parent company to up dividend payout. Market experts predict that the company would continue to boost its shareholders’ value given its average dividend payout ratio of 30 to 40 percent.
Last year, Hanwha also announced all-time high earnings with 1.77 trillion won in operating profit, largely driven by stellar performance in Hanwha’s own businesses such as gunpowder, machinery and defense sector on top of improved performance by Hanwha E&C. Backed by strong earnings, Hanwha’s preferred stocks, which is now only 46 percent of its common share but with a dividend yield of 3.9 percent, are expected to attract more investors than before.
On Thursday, shares of Hanwha Corp. fell 1.65 percent or 600 won to end 35,800 won in Seoul trading.
By Park Yun-gu
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]