Shionogi raises fiscal year dividend forecast for 2025

Shionogi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TSE:4507) has revised its dividend forecast upward for the fiscal year ending March 2025. The company's board of directors approved an increase in the year-end dividend to JPY 33 per share, a JPY 4 increase from the previous forecast. This brings the total annual dividend to JPY 184 per share on a pre-stock split basis, up JPY 24 from the previous year. The revision is attributed to the company's overall performance, including sales of COVID-19 treatment Zocova and influenza drug Xofluza, as well as the progress of key development projects and the strength of its partnership with ViiV Healthcare. Shionogi aims to enhance shareholder returns while balancing growth investments, targeting a dividend on equity (DOE) ratio of 4% or higher.