Mitsui & Co maintains dividend outlook despite profit fall

On Friday, Mitsui & Co Ltd reported weaker earnings for the first half of fiscal 2025, despite a significant increase in revenue during the same period.

Mitsui & Co maintains dividend outlook despite profit fall

The Tokyo-based industrial conglomerate stated that its profit fell by 10% to ¥420.75 billion (approximately $2.75 billion) for the first half ending September 30, down from ¥469.28 billion a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share attributable to the parent company’s shareholders decreased to ¥138.50, compared to ¥150.62 in the prior year. Revenue surged by 15% to ¥7.332 trillion, up from ¥6.377 trillion, while the cost of revenue rose by 16% to ¥6.719 trillion, compared to ¥5.769 trillion.

Buyback update

As part of the company's share buyback program announced in May and September, Mitsui reported that it had repurchased approximately 73.1 million shares for ¥248.26 billion from May 2 through Thursday. In October alone, Mitsui acquired around 15.0 million shares for ¥48.26 billion. Mitsui's dividend forecast for fiscal 2025 remains unchanged, with an expected year-end dividend of ¥50 per share, down 41% from ¥85 in fiscal 2024. The full-year dividend is projected to be ¥100 per share, also 41% lower than ¥170.