In 2021, the companies listed in the leading index ATX exceeded the break-even point of ten billion euros for the first time. Many have also significantly increased their dividend payouts. According to calculations by the Chamber of Labor (AK), which compiles the “Dividend Report” every year, the 20 companies will pay out more than 3.5 billion euros to their shareholders.
The taxpayers can also be happy about this: not only the profit taxes fill the state coffers, but also the dividends from the partially state-owned corporations. The leader in terms of profit distributions is the oil, gas and chemicals group OMV, which is 31.5 percent owned by the Republic of Austria: OMV is paying out 752.1 million euros to its shareholders for 2021.
The state also benefits
Erste Group follows in second place with a distribution of EUR 682 million. In third place is Verbund (365 million euros), 51 percent of which is owned by the Republic of Austria. The energy company distributed an even higher volume only in 2013. Overall, the 18 companies that have already published their annual results have made a profit of 10.03 billion euros.
The figures from the caterer Do&Co and voestalpine are still pending: record results are expected from the people of Linz. Here, the employees, as 15 percent shareholders, will also benefit from a higher dividend. Only Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) does not pay a dividend.
AK business economist Markus Oberrauter criticized yesterday that the payout quota for many companies was too high. The fiber manufacturer Lenzing distributes more than the profit generated in 2021 (total 115.5 million euros). In the case of the Post – which is considered a people’s share with a free float of 47 percent – the payout ratio is 84.3 percent. The AK says it makes more sense to invest in the training and further education of employees.
Source: Nachrichten
