BASF shares down after dividend cut proposal for next four years

Investing.com -- Shares of BASF (ETR:BASFN ) were down on Thursday after it announced a reduction in its dividend, proposing a minimum annual payout of €2.25 per share for the 2024 business year, payable in 2025. 

At 4:22 am (0822 GMT), BASF was trading 2.9% lower at €44.035.

This marks a decrease from the €3.40 per share distributed in 2023. The revised dividend policy is part of BASF's broader corporate strategy aimed at balancing shareholder returns with long-term financial goals. 

"In this way, BASF aims to distribute at least 12 billion euros to shareholders from 2025 to 2028," the company said in a statement.

This includes €8 billion in dividends over the four-year period and €4 billion in share buybacks, scheduled to begin by 2027 at the latest.

The proposed €2.25 per share dividend equates to around €2 billion annually. This approach offers financial flexibility as the company focuses on long-term growth and profitability.

BASF expects an EBITDA before special items of €10 billion to €12 billion by 2028, under mid- to upcycle conditions. 

The company also expects cumulative free cash flow to exceed €12 billion for the 2025-2028 period. By 2028, the return on capital employed is projected to reach 10%.

Additionally, the company expects a cash inflow of approximately €2 billion in 2024 from its exit from the oil and gas sector, further supporting its financial goals.

BASF also plans to reduce capital expenditures to below depreciation from 2026, after the Zhanjiang Verbund site in China comes online in 2025.

Source: Investing.com