Investigation for 2024: The majority of DAX companies belong to foreign investors

According to a study, Germany’s top corporations belong to foreign investors. North Americans in particular acquired additional shares in the 40 DAX groups last year, as can be seen from a study by the consulting company EY.

For the past year, experts put the share of foreign investors in the stock stock of the DAX 40 to 52.6 percent, while a almost third (33.1 percent) belongs to German investors. The other shares could not be clearly assigned.

Since 2010, the proportion of US investors has increased from 17.1 to 25.4 percent. At the same time, the proportion of European investors dropped from 25.7 to 22.9 percent. Only shares have been observed here for which data was presented throughout the period.

Half of dividends flow abroad

The DAX groups released around 54 billion euros in dividends in 2024, of which at least 26.9 billion euros (49.8 percent) flowed abroad. 21.7 billion euros (40.1 percent) went to investors from Germany. Here, too, part of the payments could not be clearly assigned.

The Insurance Group Alliance alone paid 3.5 billion euros to foreign owners. The Diagnostics Group Quiagen has the highest proportion of foreign shareholders with 93 percent. Porsche AG is mostly in German hands with 88 percent because Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE hold most of the stocks.

“Proof of attractiveness”

The chairman of the EY management, Henrik Ahlers, sees the strong commitment of foreign investors as “proof of the still great attractiveness of German top companies and for the trust that these companies enjoy worldwide.” Most DAX groups are so strongly positioned worldwide that Germany is only one market of many. International investors could contribute knowledge and technologies that could increase the innovative strength of the DAX companies.