UK dividends will not recover until 2025 - Link Group

Payouts fell by 44% in 2020

David Brenchley
clock • 4 min read

UK company dividends are unlikely to return to pre-Covid levels until 2025, Link Group has predicted after payouts almost halved in 2020.

Dividends from UK plc fell by 44% to £61.9bn for 2020, the lowest annual total since 2011, and the first time since 2015 that distributions have not grown year-on-year. Two-thirds (67%) of all UK listed firms either cancelled or cut their dividends in the last nine months of the year. On an underlying basis, excluding special payments, dividends slipped by 38.1% to £61.1bn. Just over a quarter of companies increased their dividends, while just under a tenth maintained theirs. UK inflation edges higher in December on rising transport costs In Link's worst-case scenario, dividends...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

'Budget will be a reset for our economy' Reeves tells IMF colleagues

'Budget will be a reset for our economy' Reeves tells IMF colleagues

Autumn Budget on 30 October

Linus Uhlig
clock 24 October 2024 • 2 min read
Advisers urged not to let clients 'act too soon' ahead of Budget

Advisers urged not to let clients 'act too soon' ahead of Budget

Communication is about ‘staying calm and keeping clients focused’

Isabel Baxter
clock 22 October 2024 • 5 min read
Why the Bank of England needs to stop over-sharing

Why the Bank of England needs to stop over-sharing

'We are used to the comments of central bankers moving markets'

Laith Khalaf
clock 17 October 2024 • 4 min read