Japan's biggest banks, which posted record earnings last year, are less generous than their global peers in sharing profits with investors while they search for more takeovers abroad.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. paid 22 percent of profit on on average to shareholders in the year ended March, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That trailed not only the 32 percent mean dividend payout ratio at Nikkei 225 Stock Average companies but also the 48 percent level at the world's 40 largest banks by market value for which data are available.

The Japanese banks, which sold shares and hoarded profits after the global financial crisis dented their balance sheets, have been expanding overseas as weak credit demand and shrinking interest rates hamper lending income at home. After spending at least $14 billion on acquisitions abroad over the past five years, none of the three has clinched a major deal in 2014.