Samsung Electronics shares skid as record shareholder returns disappoint

SEOUL, Aug 24 : Shares of Samsung Electronics fell 8 per cent in early trade on Monday after the company’s record $79 billion shareholder-return plan disappointed investors who had expected a larger share of Samsung’s AI-fueled cash windfalls and greater clarity on share buybacks.The South Korean chipmaker said on Friday this year's shareholder returns would be from 90 trillion won to 110 trillion won ($65 billion to $80 billion), including 30 trillion won in cash dividends in the third quarter. While five times the previous record-high returns of 2020, analysts said the projected returns were smaller than they had anticipated and that they had expected more details on the buyback plans.Samsung said it continues to commit 50 per cent of free cash flow accumulated over the three-year period