A-share firms post record dividend payouts in 2025
China’s A-share listed companies recorded a historic high in dividend payouts in 2025, signaling stronger profitability and a growing focus on shareholder returns, according to data from the country’s three major stock exchanges.
Companies distributed more than 2.6 trillion yuan (about 372 billion U.S. dollars) in cash dividends during the year. Firms listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange paid 2.06 trillion yuan, up 11 percent year on year, while Shenzhen-listed companies distributed over 547.56 billion yuan. Beijing Stock Exchange firms paid 6.39 billion yuan, up 2.62 percent from 2024.
Experts said the rise reflects a shift in China’s capital market from financing-driven expansion toward stable returns for investors, enhancing the A-share market’s appeal to long-term global capital.
Six industries on the Shanghai exchange, including banking, petroleum and petrochemicals, and food and beverages, each recorded dividend payouts exceeding 100 billion yuan.
Technology firms also saw strong growth. On the ChiNext board, 945 companies paid over 137.45 billion yuan in dividends, while 383 firms on the STAR Market distributed 38.2 billion yuan, covering more than 60 percent of listed companies.
