A-share interim dividends hit record high, 875 firms plan over 720 billion yuan

Source: China Securities Journal

According to Wind data, as of the latest count, 875 A-share companies have announced plans for mid-year cash dividends in 2026, with total proposed payouts reaching approximately 720.474 billion yuan — a new all-time high.

In recent days, several leading A-share companies, including China Railway Group Limited, China Mobile, and Yankuang Energy Group, have released implementation announcements for their 2026 semi-annual profit distribution plans, specifying the record date and ex-dividend date. A wave of dividend payments from major industry players is expected shortly.

Key Dividend Announcements

• China Railway Group Limited (announced on the evening of September 21):

Based on the company's total share capital of approximately 24.531 billion shares before implementation, the company will distribute a cash dividend of 0.06374 yuan per share (tax inclusive), totaling approximately 1.564 billion yuan (tax inclusive).

• Yankuang Energy Group (announced on the evening of September 21):

Based on approximately 5.959 billion A-shares (after deducting about 1.9652 million shares held in the company's repurchase special securities account), the company will distribute a cash dividend of 0.2 yuan per share (tax inclusive) to A-share shareholders, totaling approximately 1.192 billion yuan (tax inclusive).

• China Mobile (announced on the evening of September 20):

Based on the company's A-share capital of approximately 903 million shares, the company will distribute a cash dividend of 2.51 yuan per share (tax inclusive), totaling approximately 2.266 billion yuan (tax inclusive).

Sector and Trend Highlights

Further analysis of Wind data reveals that four major sectors — petrochemicals, banking, telecommunications, and non-bank financials — remain the backbone of traditional blue-chip dividend payouts. Meanwhile, a growing number of hard-tech and new-energy leaders, such as CATL and Hikvision, have also introduced substantial mid-year dividend plans alongside strong earnings growth, signaling the rise of dividend-paying power in emerging sectors.

High-dividend cases continue to emerge. For example, Gbit distributed a cash dividend of 10 yuan per share (tax inclusive) for the 2026 interim period, completing the payout on September 17.

Expert Commentary

Ye Xiaojie, Head of the Finance Department at the Shanghai National Accounting Institute, told China Securities Journal:

"Corporate dividend payouts not only provide direct economic returns to shareholders and enhance a company's image and reputation, but also boost investor confidence and investment enthusiasm. Regular dividend distribution helps build a more stable and mature market ecosystem, attracts more long-term institutional investors, and guides capital from short-term speculation toward long-term value investing — thereby strengthening the resilience of the capital market."