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| Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Stock Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diverse Income Trust (the) Plc | DIVI | London | Ordinary Share |
| Price Change | Price Change % | Share Price | Last Trade
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.40 | -0.45% | 88.00 | 16:24:58 |
| Open Price | Low Price | High Price | Close Price | Previous Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.20 | 88.00 | 88.20 | 88.00 | 88.40 |
| Industry Sector |
|---|
| EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS |
| Announcement Date | Type | Currency | Dividend Amount | Ex Date | Record Date | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/02/2024 | Interim | GBP | 0.01 | 21/03/2024 | 22/03/2024 | 31/05/2024 |
| 17/10/2023 | Interim | GBP | 0.01 | 21/12/2023 | 22/12/2023 | 29/02/2024 |
| 08/08/2023 | Final | GBP | 0.012 | 28/09/2023 | 29/09/2023 | 30/11/2023 |
| 03/05/2023 | Interim | GBP | 0.0095 | 22/06/2023 | 23/06/2023 | 31/08/2023 |
| 15/02/2023 | Interim | GBP | 0.0095 | 23/03/2023 | 24/03/2023 | 31/05/2023 |
| 18/10/2022 | Interim | GBP | 0.0095 | 22/12/2022 | 23/12/2022 | 28/02/2023 |
| 09/08/2022 | Final | GBP | 0.012 | 29/09/2022 | 30/09/2022 | 30/11/2022 |
| 03/05/2022 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 23/06/2022 | 24/06/2022 | 31/08/2022 |
| 17/02/2022 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 24/03/2022 | 25/03/2022 | 31/05/2022 |
| 20/10/2021 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 23/12/2021 | 24/12/2021 | 25/02/2022 |
| 10/08/2021 | Final | GBP | 0.011 | 23/09/2021 | 24/09/2021 | 30/11/2021 |
| 07/05/2021 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 24/06/2021 | 25/06/2021 | 31/08/2021 |
| 18/02/2021 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 25/03/2021 | 26/03/2021 | 28/05/2021 |
| 14/10/2020 | Interim | GBP | 0.0085 | 24/12/2020 | 29/12/2020 | 26/02/2021 |
| 18/08/2020 | Final | GBP | 0.0105 | 24/09/2020 | 25/09/2020 | 30/11/2020 |
| 06/05/2020 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 25/06/2020 | 26/06/2020 | 28/08/2020 |
| 12/02/2020 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 26/03/2020 | 27/03/2020 | 29/05/2020 |
| 09/10/2019 | Interim | GBP | 0.0085 | 24/12/2019 | 27/12/2019 | 28/02/2020 |
| 02/08/2019 | Final | GBP | 0.011 | 26/09/2019 | 27/09/2019 | 29/11/2019 |
| 02/08/2019 | Special | GBP | 0.0016 | 26/09/2019 | 27/09/2019 | 29/11/2019 |
| 01/05/2019 | Interim | GBP | 0.009 | 27/06/2019 | 28/06/2019 | 30/08/2019 |
| Top Posts |
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Posted at 25/1/2024 10:27 by adrian j boris HSBC regains crown as top UK dividend payer for first time since GFCOverall UK dividends down 3.7% Cristian Angeloni 25 January 2024 • 3 min read Last year, banks overtook any other sector in terms of dividend payments, something that has not happened since before the Global Financial Crisis, Computershare noted. Last year, banks overtook any other sector in terms of dividend payments, something that has not happened since before the Global Financial Crisis, Computershare noted. HSBC has topped the list of UK dividend payers for 2023, a spot it has not held since 2008, after fully restoring its quarterly payouts last year. Data from Computershare's Dividend Monitor published today (25 January) revealed 2023 marked the second consecutive year in which banks made the largest contribution to UK dividend growth, with payouts rising by almost a third to £13.8bn. European dividend payouts forecast to rise by 6.5% in 2024 Last year, banks also overtook any other sector in terms of dividend payments, an event that has not occurred since before the Global Financial Crisis, Computershare noted. However, overall UK dividends fell by 3.7% to £90.5bn over 2023, due to a decrease in one-off special dividends, although regular dividends grew by 5.4% to £88.5bn. Mark Cleland, CEO issuer services UK, Channel Islands, Ireland and Africa at Computershare, said: "The return to prominence by the banks is really remarkable. 13 years of rock-bottom interest rates made it very hard for the sector to make profits, but the need to quell inflation with higher interest rates means the last two years have delivered a dramatic turnaround. Bank investors are reaping the dividends of this reversal and we expect them to see even larger payouts in 2024." The oil and utility sectors followed suit, with high energy prices driving a 15.8% increase in dividends from the oil sector, whereas inflation-linked dividend policies drove record dividends from utilities. The biggest detraction came from the mining sector, the firm found, as commodity prices and profits weakened throughout the year. Total dividends paid by the mining sector dropped to £4.5bn - down more than a quarter year-on-year - including special dividends, which are "common in the highly cyclical industry", Computershare said. Despite this, the sector still accounted for £1 in every £8 distributed by UK companies in 2023. FTSE 100 dividend forecasts fall 10% for 2023 and 2024 The Dividend Monitor highlighted dividend growth was also slowed by large share buybacks undertaken last year, which impacted the total amount of dividends paid as their aim is to reduce the number of shares in issue. Computershare argued dividend growth would have been a third faster last year had buybacks not been issued, adding it would have been even faster if "a small proportion of buyback cash had been diverted to dividends". The report forecast a slower dividend growth for 2024 at 2%, with regular dividends expected to pay £89.8bn this year. However, special dividends are expected to recover and "at least make up for the negative impact of a stronger pound" and drive the headline total up 3.7% to £93.9bn. Cleland added: "There was a lot to be cheerful about in 2023, even if lower one-off payments masked the solid progress UK dividends made. UK plc is generating a lot of cash, which means underlying dividend growth was very encouraging in 2023. "Payouts may well remain below their pre-pandemic highs, but significantly larger share buyback programmes have provided an alternative route for channelling surplus capital to shareholders. These programmes also conceal the extent to which dividends are really growing by reducing the number of shares in issue. This is not to say that either buybacks or dividends are superior - they just represent a different way of cutting the cake." |
Posted at 21/7/2023 08:12 by spangle93 marmar - When I3E entered Canada, they talked about returning 30% of FCF to investors through dividends. That quoted figure has swung from 20-40%, but they've consistently said it. It took a fair while and a few court hearings, but they achieved that. They've also said that they would either acquire or drill, based on the oil price, and they've been pretty consistent with that philosophy too.At the end of 2021 they RNS'd "i3 has previously conveyed that it will distribute by way of dividends up to 30% of Free Cash Flow, defined by the Company as "Cash Flow from Operations minus Expenditures on Property, Plant & Equipment minus Expenditures on Exploration & Evaluation assets". With 2022 being planned as a particularly capital-intensive year, and with a flexible capital programme, forecasting the actual level of Free Cash Flow is more uncertain. As such, and to give clarity to i3's investors regarding next year's distribution, the Company is committing to pay a minimum of £11.827 million in dividends during 2022 (split equally and paid in conjunction with the release of its 2021 Annual and 2022 Interim Reports), equating to 1.05 pence per share - a 10.2% yield based on i3's current share price In May 2022, the Company increased the minimum dividend to be paid in 2022 by 25% from £11.827 million to £14.784 million. "The Company remains committed to delivering a sustainable monthly dividend as part of its total return model, with an underlying policy of distributing up to 30% of free cash flow back to shareholders. Due to strong operational, drilling and financial performance and supported by current cash flow forecasts, the Company intends to increase the committed dividend payment for 2022" So, the philosophy has remained constant, and the target of a 10% dividend seems common - the problems have been (1) accurate prediction of cash flow at the start of the year, and (2) using phrases like "sustainable", "Robust throughout the commodity cycle", which strongly implies to investors that they should not expect a cut. Indeed, the opposite is true - it will go up or down depending on the runway to sufficient cash. A more sustainable approach would be to pitch a dividend at a more modest but maintainable level, say 20% of FCF, and if during the year the FCF is higher than expected, pay a special dividend. P.S. On the flip side, well done for avoiding HUR. I did sell some at a high price, but will take a pasting on that overall. Also, credit should be given to I3E management for entering Canada - the purchase price for the Gain and Toscana assets was just ridiculously low for producing assets, at under $1/boe reserves. |
Posted at 20/7/2023 11:00 by fordtin I'm not sure about the i3E dividend being a "Very safe bet".They cancelled the monthly dividend over a week after shareholders were expecting it to be announced and still haven't given a firm commitment to pay the proposed replacement of a quarterly dividend with a pro-rata reduction of 50%. In the recent Q&A they put several caveats about loan covenants and commodity prices, which need to be met every quarter, before any future dividends can be declared. "Q12: The reasons for the Dividend & Capex Cut have been explained well and I think understood, can you explain the reasons for moving away from a monthly dividend - this was innovative and well received by Investors - why can this be maintained and reviewed and set quarterly after financial ratio checks etc. I cannot see how a loan agreement can affect the scheduling of dividend payments? Answered in Q8 "Q8: Was it reasonable and necessary to suspend monthly dividends entirely and with little notice when many investors will have factored in the regular payments to their budgets" "Q20: Can you please clarify the dividend policy going forward. Should shareholders prepare themselves for another dividend reduction and the possibility of a further move from quarterly dividends to bi-annual or annual, or no dividend at all?" |
Posted at 27/12/2022 11:23 by spangle93 Just a note to reinforce Divmad/Bluemango's recommendation of I3E, where I'm lucky enough to have an average purchase price of 8p, so my effective dividend is 25% :-)The board stated on 22 Dec "As part of the i3's commitment to its total return model, the Company is increasing its 2023 minimum dividend by 59.4% above the total dividends paid during 2022 to £ 24.475 million, through an increased monthly dividend of 0.171 p/share - equating to an annual dividend of 2.052 p/share" I3E drilled an appraisal well in the North Sea in October this year. Unfortunately it did not prove an extension of an existing discovery, which affected the share price. Looking into 2023, there are no single well events of a similar magnitude - the company will progress the North Sea discovery towards a field development well that ties the original exploration back to third party infrastructure. However I3E is all about exploitation of, and production from, onshore resources in western Alberta, where is has sizeable acreage in new conventional plays that offer good rates of return, and where its inventory of hundreds of wells means that no one well will wildly affect the share price Note: MINIMUM dividend. In 2022 the moonthly dividend was raised during the year. Elsewhere in the hydrocarbons space DEC continues to offer a stable, rising quarterly dividend. I'm sure CASSINI would have brought it to people's attention. DEC is unique in oil and gas in that it makes its money from managing the decline of mature wells in the US, and operating infrastructure, rather than exploring for new finds, or developing discoveries. The latest quarter is 4.375 US cents, which would be 17.5c annualised (14.5p at $1.2 = £1). Current share price is 117p, so that's a nominal dividend of 12.4%. I am SO going to get shouted out here, but the majority of brokers and investors believe that this is subject to a withholding tax of 30%, or 15% if held in an ISA, or 0% if held in a SIPP. You'd also need to complete a W-8BEN form One wildly left field oiler, which has so many red flags that it could be a May Day procession in Moscow, is CASP. Who? CASP. CASP has recently announced a maiden dividend, which turned out to be rather larger than any BB expert was imagining. "The size of this maiden dividend is indicative of the levels to be expected in the future. The Board intends that the future dividends will be paid on a monthly basis, based on the higher of £1 million per month or a pay-out ratio of broadly 35-40% of free cashflows." This equates to a distribution of 0.0444 pence/share, which has been succeeded by a second monthly dividend of the same magnitude. CASP is on AIM and operates in Kazakhstan. The CEO and members of his family own a significant majority of the shares. Its communications with retail shareholders, and engagement with them, would not get a good rating on booking.com. RNS's are written by a mouthpiece for the company - the chairman - who is an accountant, so technical details often make no sense. Although Kaz isn't subject to sanctions, its oil export route is through the Urals so it's effectively treated as such the international price it can get for its oil is much lower than Brent. HOWEVER, the concert party wants a return from the company, and now they are producing over 2000 bopd, they can pay dividends. If the monthly dividends continue, then at a share price around 4p, the annualised dividend would be 13.3% Disclaimer - I hold each of these shares |
Posted at 15/10/2022 13:33 by ariane Here’s the BHP dividend forecast for 2022 to 2024This mining giant has paid out some huge dividends recently. Here, Edward Sheldon looks at the BHP Group dividend forecast for the years ahead. Edward Sheldon, CFA❯ Published 15 October, 8:47 am BST Mining powerhouse BHP Group (LSE: BHP) has been a bit of a cash cow for investors in recent years. Last financial year, for example, it rewarded shareholders with total regular dividends of USD $3.25 per share, which translates to a yield of about 13% at the current share price. Is the company set to continue paying out monster dividends going forward? Let’s take a look at the BHP dividend forecast for the years ahead. BHP dividend forecasts First, there are a couple of things to explain. The first is that BHP’s financial year ends on 30 June. So, the year ending 30 June 2023 is ‘FY2023’ The second is that BHP reports its financials, and declares its dividends, in US dollars. So, all forecasts are in dollars. This is important to note because the GBP/USD exchange rate is quite volatile at the moment. In other words, the yield on offer today could be quite different to the yield when the dividends are actually paid if exchange rates fluctuate. As for the forecasts, right now City analysts expect BHP to pay out $2.09 per share for FY2023 and $1.86 per share for FY2024. These projected payouts are lower than the $3.25 paid last financial year. However, they still translate to very high yields. At today’s share price and exchange rate, the projected payout for FY2023 equates to a prospective yield of 8.3% while the estimated payout for FY2024 translates to a prospective yield of 7.4%. Assuming that these dividend forecasts are accurate (analysts’ estimates can be way off the mark at times), BHP looks set to continue being a cash cow for investors. Are BHP shares worth buying for income? Would I buy BHP shares for the big dividends on offer? The answer to that question is actually no. One reason I’d pass on BHP is that the stock is ‘cyclical̵ I don’t see the point of collecting a 8% yield if the share price can potentially fall around 70% like it did here. I’d need many years of dividends to make up for that kind of capital loss. I prefer dividend stocks that are a little more stable in nature. Another issue for me is the fact that BHP tends to cut its dividend when business conditions are challenging. This is not ideal from an income-investing perspective. I prefer to invest in companies that consistently increase their dividend payouts year after year. I can rely on these kinds of businesses to provide me with a certain level of income. So, while the yield here does look very attractive, I won’t be buying the shares for my portfolio any time soon. Ed Sheldon has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK |
Posted at 27/5/2022 19:19 by waldron UK dividends calendar - next 7 daysFri, 27th May 2022 16:02 Alliance News Monday 30 May Bakkavor Group PLC dividend payment date Central Asia Metals PLC dividend payment date Mortgage Advice Bureau Holdings PLC dividend payment date Tuesday 31 May 4imprint Group PLC dividend payment date AEW UK REIT PLC dividend payment date Anglo Pacific Group PLC dividend payment date Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC dividend payment date Bankers Investment Trust PLC dividend payment date City of London Investment Trust PLC dividend payment date Custodian REIT PLC dividend payment date Diverse Income Trust dividend payment date Ecofin Global Utilities & Infrastructure Trust PLC dividend payment date Henderson International Income Trust PLC dividend payment date JPMorgan Global Core Real Assets Ltd dividend payment date Picton Property Income Ltd dividend payment date Sportech PLC dividend payment date Wednesday 1 June Alliance Trust PLC ex-dividend date BAE Systems PLC dividend payment date Bodycote PLC dividend payment date Derwent London PLC dividend payment date Essentra PLC dividend payment date Evraz PLC ex-dividend date Henderson Diversified Income Trust PLC ex-dividend date Henderson European Focus Trust PLC ex-dividend date Henry Boot PLC dividend payment date Hilton Food Group PLC ex-dividend date IntegraFin Holdings PLC ex-dividend date JPMorgan China Growth & Income PLC dividend payment date JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust PLC dividend payment date Legal & General Group PLC dividend payment date Majedie Investments PLC ex-dividend date Menhaden PLC ex-dividend date Momentum Multi-Asset Value Trust PLC ex-dividend date National Grid PLC ex-dividend date Porvair PLC dividend payment date Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust PLC ex-dividend date Regional REIT Ltd ex-dividend date Residential Secure Income PLC ex-dividend date Restore PLC ex-dividend date RM Infrastructure Income PLC ex-dividend date Sabre Insurance Group PLC dividend payment date Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC ex-dividend date Severn Trent PLC ex-dividend date Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLC ex-dividend date Tritax Big Box REIT PLC dividend payment date Utilico Emerging Markets Trust PLC ex-dividend date Vodafone Group PLC ex-dividend date VPC Specialty Lending Investments PLC ex-dividend date Warehouse REIT PLC ex-dividend date Zotefoams PLC dividend payment date Thursday 2 June Gamma Communications ex-dividend date Hill & Smith Holdings PLC ex-dividend date Jupiter Emerging & Frontier Income Trust PLC ex-dividend date Keller Group PLC ex-dividend date Macfarlane Group PLC dividend payment date Friday 3 June Aptitude Software Group PLC dividend payment date LSL Property Services PLC dividend payment date |
Posted at 07/9/2021 22:33 by waldron Published in:Investing 7th September 2021 Tax on share dividends to increase by 1.25%. Here’s what it means for investors Updated: by Karl Talbot | 3 min read Tax on share dividends to increase by 1.25%. Here’s what it means for investors The government has announced a 1.25% increase in the tax on share dividends that will apply from April 2022. The news comes at the same time as it was announced that National Insurance contributions will increase by 1.25% next year. The government says the rises will help fund health and social care in England. Both announcements are subject to a vote in the House of Commons. So if you’re an investor, what does the new tax on share dividends mean for you? Here’s what you need to know. How much tax is currently paid on share dividends? If you’re an investor, you currently get a dividend allowance of £2,000. So, if you receive dividends worth £2,000 or less, you don’t have to pay any tax on them. For dividends of more than £2,000, the amount of tax you pay depends on your income tax band. This is unless your investments are held in an ISA, in which case your dividend payments remain tax free. For non-tax-efficient investments, you must pay 7.5% tax on any dividends over £2,000 if you’re a basic rate taxpayer. If you’re a higher rate taxpayer, you must pay 32.5%, and it’s 38.1% if you’re an additional rate taxpayer. You can find more information on income tax bands on the gov.uk website. What are the changes to dividends tax? From April 2022, the government is implementing a 1.25% rise in the tax on dividends to help fund social care. Analysts expect that the move will raise up to £600 million, with the majority of payers coming from the top 10% of households. The new tax will not, however, apply to investments held within an ISA. Why has dividends tax increased? With a National Insurance hike of 1.25% also announced, many analysts feel that the dividends tax is a way for the government to show that it is keen to increase taxes on asset holders as well as those who rely on a working income. Critics of the National Insurance hike have repeatedly pointed to the fact that it will not apply to most pensioners, landlords or those living off income from assets, suggesting that only those relying on a working income face the burden. National Insurance, by definition, is also a regressive tax, meaning that an increase disproportionately impacts those on lower incomes. That’s because the amount of contributions you have to make, at a percentage level, decreases at higher incomes. However, critics of the dividend tax rise consider it a token gesture. That’s because the 1.25% rise won’t apply to investments held in an ISA. How has industry reacted? Commenting on the changes, Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell, says that investors should now take the time to examine their portfolios in order to ensure they aren’t inadvertently paying more tax than they need to. He explains: “The increase in dividend tax means people investing outside tax-sheltered wrappers like pensions and ISAs should review their portfolios to make sure they are making as much use as possible of their annual contribution allowances to keep their tax bills as low as possible.” Will the tax increase definitely go ahead? MPs will vote on the government’s health and social care plan, including the planned dividends tax rise, on Wednesday 8 September at 7pm. While a number of cross-party MPs do not approve of the proposals, the policy is expected to pass through the House of Commons. MyWalletHero… |
Posted at 29/7/2021 07:42 by waldron The Hague, July 29, 2021 - The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc ("RDS" or the "Company") today announced an interim dividend in respect of the second quarter of 2021 of US$ 0.24 per A ordinary share ("A Share") and B ordinary share ("B Share").Chair of the Board of Royal Dutch Shell, Sir Andrew Mackenzie commented: "Shell's proven and sustainable cash generation across a range of macroeconomic scenarios has provided the Board confidence to increase shareholder distributions. As a result, the Board has decided to rebase the dividend per share to 24 US cents from the second quarter 2021 onwards." Details relating to the second quarter 2021 interim dividend Per ordinary share Q2 2021 RDS A Shares (US$) 0.24 RDS B Shares (US$) 0.24 It is expected that cash dividends on the B Shares will be paid via the Dividend Access Mechanism and will have a UK source for UK and Dutch tax purposes. Cash dividends on A Shares will be paid, by default, in euros, although holders of A Shares will be able to elect to receive dividends in US dollars or pounds sterling. Cash dividends on B Shares will be paid, by default, in pounds sterling, although holders of B Shares will be able to elect to receive dividends in US dollars or euros. The pound sterling and euro equivalent dividend payments will be announced on September 6, 2021. Per ADS Q2 2021 RDS A ADSs (US$) 0.48 RDS B ADSs (US$) 0.48 Cash dividends on American Depository Shares ("ADSs") will be paid, by default, in US dollars. RDS A and B ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols RDS.A and RDS.B, respectively. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares, two A Shares in the case of RDS.A or two B Shares in the case of RDS.B. ADSs are evidenced by an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) certificate. In many cases the terms ADR and ADS are used interchangeably. Dividend timetable for the second quarter 2021 interim dividend Event Date Announcement date July 29, 2021 Ex- Dividend Date for ADS.A and ADS.B August 12, 2021 Ex- Dividend Date for RDS A and RDS B August 12, 2021 Record date August 13, 2021 Closing of currency election date (see Note August 27, 2021 below) Pound sterling and euro equivalents announcement September 6, 2021 date Payment date September 20, 2021 Note A different currency election date may apply to shareholders holding shares in a securities account with a bank or financial institution ultimately holding through Euroclear Nederland. This may also apply to other shareholders who do not hold their shares either directly on the Register of Members or in the corporate sponsored nominee arrangement. Shareholders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies. Taxation - cash dividends Cash dividends on A Shares will be subject to the deduction of Dutch dividend withholding tax at the rate of 15%, which may be reduced in certain circumstances. Non-Dutch resident shareholders, depending on their particular circumstances, may be entitled to a full or partial refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax. If you are uncertain as to the tax treatment of any dividends you should consult your tax advisor. Dividend Reinvestment Programmes ("DRIP") The following organisations operate Dividend Reinvestment Plans ("DRIPs") which enable RDS shareholders to elect to have their dividend payments used to purchase RDS shares of the same class as those already held by them: -- Equiniti Financial Services Limited ("EFSL"), for those holding shares (a) directly on the register as certificate holder or as CREST Member and (b) via the Nominee Service; -- ABN-AMRO NV ("ABN") for Financial Intermediaries holding A shares or B shares via Euroclear Nederland; -- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPM") for holders of A and B American Depository Shares; and -- Other DRIPs may also be available from the intermediary through which investors hold their shares. Such organisations provide their DRIPs fully on their account and not on behalf of Royal Dutch Shell plc. Interested parties should contact DRIP Offerors directly. More information can be found at To be eligible for the next dividend, shareholders must make a valid dividend reinvestment election before the published date for the close of elections. (END) Dow Jones Newswires |
Posted at 08/7/2021 19:18 by waldron These UK stocks are expected to pay bumper dividends – but beware of broken promises, research saysPublished Thu, Jul 8 20214:33 AM EDT Elliot Smith @ElliotSmithCNBC Key Points AJ Bell highlighted in a report Wednesday that investors will need to look carefully at the 10 firms expected to yield the highest payouts to shareholders this year, since several of them have a record of being forced to cut dividends during challenging times. Rio Tinto is the highest-yielding individual stock in the FTSE 100, with an expected yield of 12%, followed by BHP at 9.2%, Imperial Brands at 8.7% and Evraz at 8.5%. LONDON — Total FTSE 100 dividend payments are expected to rise by a quarter this year to £76.9 billion ($106.3 million), meaning the U.K.’s leading index is set to yield 3.7% for 2021, according to data aggregated by British stockbroker AJ Bell. Meanwhile the index’s average dividend coverage ratio, which measures the number of times a company can pay dividends to its shareholders, has improved to 1.83x, its highest level since 2014. To supplement the higher dividends, many FTSE 100 companies have begun to announce share buybacks. A total of twelve firms have so far announced buybacks to the aggregate tune of £7.2 billion: Barclays, Berkeley, BP, CRH, Diageo, Ferguson, NatWest, Rightmove, Sage, Standard Chartered, Unilever and Vodafone. Share buybacks are when a company purchases its own shares from the open market, driving up the share price. AJ Bell highlighted in a report Wednesday that investors will need to look carefully at the 10 firms expected to yield the highest payouts to shareholders this year, since several of them have a record of being forced to cut dividends during challenging times. Top 10 yielders Rio Tinto is the highest-yielding individual stock in the FTSE 100, with an expected yield of 12%, followed by BHP at 9.2%, Imperial Brands at 8.7% and Evraz at 8.5%. “Forecast of yields in the region of 10% may make investors a little wary, given the shocking record of firms previously expected to generate such bumper returns, including Vodafone, Shell, Evraz itself and – when they were still in the FTSE 100 – Royal Mail, Marks & Spencer and Centrica,” said AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould. “All were forecast to generate a yield in excess of 10% at one stage or another and all cut the dividend instead.” UK small-cap stocks to continue to benefit in the coming months, strategist says Mould added that China’s reported discontent with surging iron ore prices may lead some investors to question the likelihood of such a bumper payment from Rio Tinto. Analyst consensus does not anticipate a repeat performance in 2022, he pointed out. The remaining companies in the top 10 are Persimmon (7.7%), Admiral Group (7.6%), M&G (7.5%), British American Tobacco (7.5%), Anglo American (7.2%) and Phoenix Group (6.9%). Miners and banks also dominate the list of 10 companies expected to make the biggest individual contribution to the £15.3 billion total increase in FTSE 100 dividends this year, the report highlighted, with HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest all featuring. ‘Dividend aristocrats’ Mould suggested that investors will need to assess concentration risk — the danger of having too much exposure to a particular sector or type of stock — when it comes to dividends as well as earnings, an issue often associated with seeking income from the U.K. stock market. He also highlighted that historically, the highest-yielding stocks do not prove to be the best long-term investments. “Often defending a high yield can be a burden for a firm, as it sucks cash away from vital investment in the underlying business, or can be a sign that the company is in trouble and investors are demanding such a high yield to compensate themselves for the (perceived) risks associated with owning the equity,” Mould said. BlackRock: Neutral on U.S. stocks, likes cyclicals, Europe and Japan markets “The strongest long-term performance often comes from those firms that have the best long-term dividend growth record, as they provide the dream combination of higher dividends and a higher share price – the increased distribution will over time drag the share price higher through sheer force.” The FTSE 100 currently has 15 firms which can evidence a 10-year dividend growth track record, with nine firms having dropped off that list since the pandemic. Industrial equipment rental company Ashtead tops the list, with a total return of 3,425.4% between 2011 and 2020, followed by Intermediate Capital at 1,031.1% and the London Stock Exchange at 991.2%. The firms, which Mould dubs “dividend aristocrats,” are: Scottish Mortgage (865%), Spirax-Sarco (734.8%), Halma (703.4%), Croda (369.4%), RELX (368.6%), DCC (311.8%), Diageo (259.2%), Hargreaves Lansdown (258.7%), United Utilities (175.2%), National Grid (163.5%), Sage (94%) and British American Tobacco (69.9%). |
Posted at 09/6/2020 19:35 by waldron Is Shell’s Dividend Cut Permanent?Join Our Community Investors were more than annoyed when Royal Dutch Shell slashed its dividend by two thirds. Just last year, the giant oil company announced its plan to pay out huge dividends over the coming five years. Actually, the investors used stronger terms than “annoyed.̶ Royal Dutch Shell has a reputation for forward planning. And dividend policy, which is supposed to reflect management’s best long term projections is not something that is trifled with lightly. So what does the significant dividend cut say? Management offered two explanations: 1) it was unwise to pay a dividend that would not be earned. i.e. that would require borrowing to sustain. That would reduce the resilience (a favorite word nowadays) of the company. Royal Dutch Shell, however, has the borrowing power and resources to pay an unearned dividend as well as carry out other activities during a short period of difficulties. We could see cash flow of $35 billion and capital expenditures of $20 billion during a bad year, which leaves just enough to pay the annual dividend of $15 billion. An optimistic management would not see this as a problem at all. But a 66% dividend reduction suggests less than optimistic hopes for a sharp rebound in demand. Or perhaps instead that increasingly volatile global oil market conditions may become the new normal, therefore making a large dividend imprudent. Management added another explanation, though: 2) The company also needed the cash resources of the dividend to shift to a position of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This seems to have puzzled investors even more than concerns about profound future market volatility. Royal Dutch Shell’s management did not explain how cash conserved in this manner would be profitably redeployed to reach this goal. The collateral issue for investors is how seriously to take management’s guidance which assumes a financial policy continuity for many decades in the future long after the retirements of current senior management and directors. Related: China Set To Ramp Up Natural Gas Imports This Decade Royal Dutch Shell could cease investing in new oil properties, sell off what it owns and put the money into non-fossil energy or just return the cash to its investors. That would get it into a net zero position sooner. Or it could wind down its oil businesses gradually and liquidate the company by paying out dividends rather than retain the money. But with so much money going into the development of oil properties, it is difficult for outsiders to evaluate the company’s new direction, which seems to be: “We want to go green, but not quite yet.” This ambivalence about capital investment direction puts investors in an uncomfortable position. Those looking for steady, high yields have been served notice. They can no longer depend on this sector for above average dividend yields. More risk tolerant growth investors may also become reticent about a business gradually losing market share in an energy market that is itself slow growing. Investors who want exposure to the renewables market will not likely do so via investment in oil companies that increasingly own renewables. In this respect oil companies at this stage don’t bring much to the table except their money. And there is plenty of that around from other sources. Also the environmental-social Almost five decades ago, the US electric utility industry had a reputation for rock-solid common stock dividends with above average yields. But power plants, especially those located on the east and west coasts, were at that time heavily fueled by cheap oil from the Middle East. Suddenly this formerly cheap fuel first became scarce and then far more expensive. New York’s own Consolidated Edison Company found itself heavily exposed in the early 1970s and did the unthinkable, omitting its dividend. That was the icebreaker so to speak. Others followed. The key takeaway, to us, is that after the Con Ed dividend cut, yield oriented investors looked at electric utilities differently. They could no longer rely on a dividend even during times of stress. We wonder if, in a similar way, Royal Dutch Shell’s dividend action has similarly broken the ice. By Leonard Hyman and William Tilles for Oilprice.com |
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