European firms shell out record dividends as weakening US dollar boosts greenback-denominated payouts

UK dividends flat

Exceptional dividends in Europe have seen the continent, excluding the UK, record a 10% year-on-year increase in company payouts to shareholders.

This saw dividends rise by $23bn to reach $261bn in Q2, according to Vanguard Europe's Q2 dividend update. The surge in European dividends was equivalent to the combined payouts in North America ($10bn), China ($7bn) and Japan ($6bn).  UK dividends fall 1.4% in Q2 but defence and financials show underlying strength The continent chalked up a record high dollar payout for the first half of 2025, totalling $311bn, an 8% increase on the same period a year prior.  According to Viktor Nossek, head of investment and product analytics at Vanguard, Europe, "the weakening of the US dolla...