Meritz Financial Group (KRX:138040) and six other major Korean firms announced share buyback and dividend programs totalling ₩5 trillion in August 2026, the largest monthly shareholder-return announcement since start of year. SK hynix led the list with ₩40 trillion of buyback and cancellation plans, signalling confidence in cash flow stability and capital adequacy.
The August announcements bring year-to-date total shareholder returns to ₩218 trillion across the KRX, on pace for a record year as cash-rich corporates reset capital allocation policies with higher interest rates reducing project returns.
Meritz Financial's market capitalisation was ₩22.9 trillion at Thursday's close. First-half 2026 net income of ₩129 billion was down 18% from a year earlier as investment losses offset underwriting profit. Shareholder-return programs typically signal management confidence that earnings stability justifies permanent capital reduction.
Korea's dividend and buyback activity ranks in the top three globally relative to market capitalization, though still trails Taiwan and Singapore peers in intensity.
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| Symbol | Last Price |
|---|---|
| 138040Meritz Financial Group Inc. | ₩135,500 -1.0% |