Global corporate dividends reached a record $1.66 trillion in 2023, with shareholder payouts hitting an all-time high of $1.7 trillion as bank profits surged. This trend marks a significant shift in the perception of dividends within the software sector, where they were once seen as a sign of a business going ex-growth and were generally viewed negatively. Now, dividends are considered a prudent capital allocation strategy and are positively received. The fund manager Janus Henderson Group anticipates another record-breaking year for dividends in 2024, reflecting the changing attitudes towards shareholder returns and the robust financial performance of companies globally.