The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) delivered a total return of 13.81% in FY25, of which 3.84% was dividend returns.
Let's review how the dividend returns differed between the 11 market sectors last financial year.
Which sector delivered the best dividends?
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Dividend returns across the ASX 200 sectors in FY25
The sectors are ranked below in order of best dividend returns.
Utilities
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 4.62%.
The utilities index fell 1.55%, but healthy dividends of 6.17% turned the sector's return positive.
So positive that utilities ended up delivering the best dividends of the 11 market sectors in FY25.
APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA) was the sector's highest riser, lifting 2.63%.
Energy
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was 8.12%.
The energy index lost 13.5% of its value last year, but solid dividends of 5.4% somewhat mitigated the sector's decline.
This made the energy sector the second-best dividend payer of FY25.
ASX 200 uranium share Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) was the fastest rising energy stock, up 25.37%.
Financials
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) last year was 29.39%.
Dividends made up a respectable 4.94% of the ASX 200 financial sector's total return.
Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) was the sector's biggest mover, with its share price soaring 116%.
Communications
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was 27.78%.
Dividends made up 4.34% of the ASX 200 communications sector's total return.
EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT) was the sector's highest riser, lifting 44.63%.
Industrials
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was 26.24%.
Dividends made up 4.11% of the ASX 200 industrials sector's total return.
ASX 200 airline share Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) was the sector's highest flyer, lifting 84.1%.
Materials
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) last year was 2.03%.
The index fell by 6.04%, but dividends of 3.74% reduced the negative return.
ASX 200 gold miner Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) was the sector's strongest riser, up 148%.
Real estate & REITs
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was 13.97%.
Dividends made up 3.72% of the ASX 200 real estate sector's total return.
Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) was the sector's best performer for share price growth, up 73.1%.
Consumer staples
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 1.32%.
The index fell by 2.09% last year, but dividends of 3.41% offset the fall.
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) was the consumer staples sector's highest riser, up 28.24%.
Consumer discretionary
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) last year was 20.84%.
Dividends made up 2.85% of the ASX 200 consumer discretionary sector's total return.
Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) was the best performer, with its share price rising 128%.
Healthcare
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was 4.61%.
The index fell by 5.99% last year, but dividends of 1.38% reduced the negative overall return.
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) was the top riser of the healthcare sector, up 137%.
Technology
The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was 24.19%.
Dividends made up just 0.3% of the ASX 200 technology sector's total return.
TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) was the sector's strongest performer, with its share price up 121.3%.
