Dividend payouts remained one of the strongest drivers of investor sentiment on the Nigerian Exchange in the first half of 2025, as leading companies disbursed a combined N927.63 billion in cash to shareholders.
The figure, which covered both final and annual dividends declared within the six-month period, represents a 30 per cent increase over the N715.47 billion paid out in the same period of 2024. Analysts say the surge underscores strong corporate earnings and has buoyed confidence in the market.
Higher payouts not only highlight profitability but also attract income-focused investors, boosting trading volumes and liquidity. For many Nigerian investors, the steady stream of dividend income is as important as share price appreciation.
According to the ranking of the top dividend-paying stocks, Geregu Power Plc secured the 10th position, rewarding shareholders with N21.25 billion. The payment, which equated to N8.50 per share, reflected a 6.25 per cent increase from the N20 billion distributed last year.
During the period, Geregu retained N50.2 billion in earnings, slightly down from N51.3 billion as of December 2024, while revenue climbed to N87.6 billion from N80.6 billion. However, pretax profit slipped 12.7 per cent to N26.3 billion, pressured by higher operating costs.
Market watchers note that such consistent payouts not only reassure investors of management’s confidence in future earnings but also help position the companies among premium players on the Nigerian Exchange
