Telco giant PLDT Inc., Ty-led Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. and International Container Terminal Services Inc. captured the top slot in the recently-launched PSE Dividend Yield Index with a weight of 10 percent.
The PSE DivY focuses on 20 companies that consistently give high-yielding dividends. Market capitalization, liquidity, free float and financial performance are the other criteria considered.
The index selection criteria and methodology were benchmarked against peer exchanges such as Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
PLDT has consistently paid out dividends from its annual earnings. It has a dividend policy of 60 percent payout on telco core income.
For its 2021 earnings of P30.2 billion, PLDT declared dividends of P84 per share, translating to a yield of five percent based on the stock’s year-end closing price of P1,812.
“We are very pleased to be included in the PSE DivY. This affirms PLDT’s balanced approach to capital management, where we continue to provide consistent returns to our shareholders even as we manage our investment in capex and keep our leverage at prudent levels,” said Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT president and CEO.
SOURCE: Bilyonaryo
