The multinational companies (MNCs) listed with the stock exchanges have performed mixed in recommending dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The amounts of dividends recommended by some MNCS have declined, while the dividends of some other companies increased compared to previous year.
The companies have recommended dividends ranging between 10 per cent and 700 per cent.
Of the MNCs, the British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company (BATBC) has recommended the highest amount of dividend.
The BATBC has recommended 500 per cent cash and 200 per cent stock dividend.
Two companies have recommended stock dividend despite the MNCs usually prefer the recommendation of cash dividend.
The companies whose dividends increased for 2018 maintaining their growth trend are BATBC, Linde Bangladesh and Grameenphone.
Masud Khan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Crown Cement Group, said the dividends recommended by some MNCs fluctuated due to decline observed in earnings.
"The cement sector has witnessed a decline in earnings following increased cost of raw materials. It may be the reason behind the decline in the amounts of dividends," Khan said.
He said normally the MNCs prefer cash dividend and the concerned companies know the reason of recommending stock dividend.
The company has also reported EPS of Tk. 166.87, NAV per share of Tk. 492.15 and NOCFPS of Tk. 150.13 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk. 130.50, Tk. 385.21 and Tk. 162.22 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
Linde Bangladesh has recommended 375 per cent cash dividend. The company has also reported EPS of Tk. 65.96, NAV per share of Tk. 293.90 and NOCFPS of Tk. 76.87 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk. 62.60, Tk. 241.54 and Tk. 76.13 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
Grameenphone has recommended has recommended 280 per cent cash dividend. The company has also reported EPS of Tk. 26.04, NAV per share of Tk. 31.38 and NOCFPS of Tk. 44.74 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk. 20.31, Tk. 26.01 and Tk. 42.78 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh has recommended 75 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018. The company has also reported EPS of Tk. 14.33, NAV per share of Tk. 82.68 and NOCFPS of Tk. 11.32 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk. 14.21, Tk. 83.17 and Tk. 14.09 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Bangladesh has recommended 530 per cent cash dividend. The company has also reported a loss of Tk 52.75 per share for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against the EPS of Tk. 55.56 for the same period of the previous year.
LafargeHolcim Bangladesh has recommended 10 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.96, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 13.41 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 2.68 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk. 0.69, Tk. 13.15 and Tk. 1.17 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
Singer Bangladesh has recommended 30 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 11.96 and consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 30.13 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk. 9.79 and Tk. 28.17 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
Eleven MNCs listed with stock exchanges account for approximately 22 per cent of the Dhaka bourse's market capitalisation.
Four MNCs are yet to recommend dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
