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• The annual company dividend bonanza has started with $28.5 billion due to be paid.
• The majority of companies reporting full-year earnings results chose to pay a dividend.
• And most of these companies lifted or maintained payout.

Shareholders in ASX-listed companies will be paid out $28.5 billion over the next few weeks.

Since late August, ASX200 companies have sent $6 billion in dividends to shareholders but payouts really start to ramp up from next week.

Another $22.5 billion will be distributed in coming weeks, with a combined total of $28.5 billion coming to shareholders.

Analysis by CommSec shows dividends are in vogue with most companies (90%) reporting full-year earnings results choosing to pay a dividend and 90% of those either lifting or maintaining the payout.

The week by week flow of dividends:

CommSec

CommSec says the recent earnings season was impressive.

“Six months ago, when describing the first-half 2018 reporting season we said results had been solid, not spectacular,” says CommSec.

“This reporting season, for companies largely reporting full-year results to June 2018, the macro picture has been almost been a carbon copy.”

Almost 93% of companies reported a profit, just below the 94% record high in February.

Aggregate statutory earnings lifted 8.4% on a year ago.

The percentage of companies issuing a dividend is near record highs, expenses have matched sales, and cash levels are at record highs and up 8.5% on a year ago for all ASX200, half or full-year reporting companies.

Of all companies reporting full year earnings, almost 93% posted a profit, 62% a lift in profit and 38% a decline.

And of those reporting a profit, 60% lifted profits and 40% reported a decline.

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