Last year, investors reaped the dividends of their hard work, as corporations paid shareholders a record $1.66T — up from $1.57T in 2022. Banks fueled nearly half the growth over the past two years amid higher interest rates.

• 22 countries — including the US, France, and Germany — saw their highest-ever payouts, with 86% of listed companies worldwide maintaining or increasing dividends.
• Significant cuts from companies like BHPBHP
  , PetrobrasPBR
  , and Intel dented the global dividend growth rate.

Is the dividend future bright? Janus Henderson’s Ben Lofthouse sees a bright future — “Corporate cash flow is strong, and that’s fueling dividends and share buybacks.” Sectors like oil, healthcare, and consumer goods are expected to pick up the slack for slowing bank dividends, keeping the momentum going. With a projected total dividend payout of $1.72T in 2024, investors can anticipate another year of raining returns.