The growth was widespread across regions, including North America, Europe, Japan, and the UK, despite a challenging macroeconomic environment. Notably, North America accounted for 46.3% of global dividends, with the U.S. distributing $183.5 billion. In contrast, global share buybacks slightly declined by 3.1% to $425.7 billion, indicating a more selective approach by companies. The financial sector remained the largest contributor to dividends and buybacks, while the materials sector exhibited the highest dividend growth at 47.1%, driven by demand for strategic minerals.