Cyprus Mail
BusinessInternationalUSA

GM restores quarterly dividend after more than two years

general motors gm

General Motors Co (GM.N) said on Friday it would reinstate quarterly dividend payouts, suggesting the automaker was confident it was past the worst risks from the pandemic and the economic turbulence of the past several months.

The automaker had suspended dividend payments and share buybacks in April 2020 after the global coronavirus pandemic hit sales and impacted production, forcing the company to conserve cash during the crisis.

The first dividend, at the rate of 9 cents per share on the company’s common stock, will be paid on Sept. 15, 2022, the carmaker said in a statement.

GM Chief Executive Mary Barra cited the company’s electric vehicle (EV) expansion and domestic battery manufacturing infrastructure plans and said, “progress on these key strategic initiatives has improved our visibility and strengthened confidence in our capacity to fund growth while also returning capital to shareholders.”

Cross-town rival Ford Motor Co (F.N) had also said in July it would restore its dividend to a pre-pandemic 15 cents a share.

Shares of GM rose over 2 per cent to $39.36 in premarket trade.

GM shares are down 33 per cent so far this year, even though the company has stuck to optimistic profit outlooks and told investors last month the disruptions to production caused by shortages of semiconductors were easing.

Last year, the company boosted its spending plans on electric and autonomous vehicles to $35 billion through 2025 as it looks to catch up with EV leader Tesla Inc (TSLA.O).

Meanwhile, GM also said it will resume opportunistic share repurchases, adding the board has increased the capacity under the company’s existing repurchase program to $5.0 billion of common stock, up from the $3.3 billion previously remaining under the program.

Related Posts

Central banks hike rates as turmoil hits bank shares again

Reuters News Service

Russian suspect facing extradition from Italy to U.S. evades house arrest

Reuters News Service

Trump to face anonymous jury in high-profile New York defamation trial

Reuters News Service

Central banks keep hiking rates amid banking turmoil

Reuters News Service

Swiss regulator defends its decision to write off AT1 bonds

Reuters News Service

Erdogan tries to salvage economic credibility before Turkey’s election

Reuters News Service