. On the one hand, the accumulated revaluation since January — 12% for the Ibex 35 and 11.5% for the General Index — places it in the leading group among the markets that rise the most in Europe in 2024. Furthermore, at this appreciation in the price of shares, investors must add the generosity of Spanish companies when distributing their profits.
In the first 11 months of the year, Spanish listed companies reached 34,655 million euros. The amortization of shares has also grown, up to 13,579 million euros, so if both shareholder remuneration formulas (dividends and amortizations) are taken into account, this exceeds 48,200 million euros, a growth of 11% to a new historical maximum.
“It has been a year not without difficulties, but in which growth has been recorded in the main activity indicators of the Stock Market,” explained the manager of the Spanish Stock Exchange, during the presentation of the annual balance of the market. “We have received more companies, the remuneration to shareholders has increased, the volume of hiring and the amount of corporate financing through the financial markets has also grown. “We can be reasonably satisfied with what has been achieved this year,” added the man who was until a few months ago CEO of the company, owned by the Swiss group SIX.
The balance of the year is somewhat less triumphant if the flow of new releases on the floor is analyzed. The face is Puig, this year; the Europastry cross, which canceled its share offering up to two times, and other companies that have postponed their IPOs due to market conditions. Until the end of November, BME has welcomed 24 new companies: three on the Stock Market and 21 in the growth markets BME Growth and BME Scaleup. It is the highest activity in new company admissions since 2018.
“Naturally, we always want more, but this path is the right one. It is important that more companies, of all sizes and sectors, benefit from the advantages of becoming listed companies,” Hernani explained.
This year has also been positive in relation to capital increases, the amount of which has grown by 32% to 6,062 million euros. The number of operations has also increased by 29% to 157. These data show how the Stock Exchange fulfills its main role, which is to serve as a platform for financing to reach the business community and, with it, the productive economy. According to data from the World Federation of Stock Exchanges, in 2024 Spain was the tenth market in the world in new financing flows, with a growth of 97% to 9,316 million euros.
Not only variable income allows companies of all sizes to finance themselves, but also fixed income, through the issuance of different types of debt. In this field, the 5.2% growth in emissions incorporated into the MARF stands out, up to 14,468 million euros.
One of BME’s big problems is the progressive loss of market share compared to alternative operators in share trading. In this sense, after several years of declines, 2024 also leaves positive figures in terms of hiring volume. With data up to the end of November, the volume traded in equities grows 6% compared to last year, up to 294,218 million.
The publication of the annual balance sheet on the Madrid Stock Exchange also served as a public presentation for the new CEO of BME, Juan Flames. The manager predicted that 2025 will also be a good year for the Spanish parquet. “The macro outlook offers a good basis for the Spanish stock market, both for cyclical and growth stocks, and in all sectors of the Spanish stock market,” the manager highlighted. In his opinion, the recent announcement by the CNMV in which it indicates that it will expedite the approval of prospectuses before the distribution of shares in an IPO, represents a “great opportunity” for companies that are considering going public to do so with greater confidence. “As you know, BME is working intensively with the regulator on this and other measures with which we hope to increase the rate of incorporation of companies into the stock market ecosystem,” he concluded.
