dividends

Australian companies’ dividend payouts are down 24 per cent from a year ago, as higher interest rates and cash flow challenges darken the outlook. Payouts from miners decreased significantly, although the dividend picture remains positive for banks.

Edinburgh-based Dundas Global Investors sees dividend growth, rather than dividend income itself, as the key to long-term outperformance. The numbers bear out the wisdom of that approach.

Dividend investing can be a good source of defensive income in volatile times, but changing fundamentals mean resources companies and banks may be the weaker play in 2023, with opportunities emerging beyond these traditional Australian dividend payers – although valuation will be key.

Markets drift lower, Rio’s dividend bonanza, inflation spikes The ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) weakened throughout the session, ultimately finishing 0.7% lower on Wednesday. Every sector fell apart from property, which added 0.9%, with the local tech sector once again the hardest hit, down 2.1% as Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) continue to face global competition. Both Vicinity…

Positive finish to the week, Seven gets serious on Boral, property lending spikes The ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) finished the week on a positive note, adding 0.5% behind a rally from the energy (+1.6%) and industrial (+1.2%) sectors. The dogs of last financial year were the biggest contributors on Friday, with Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) and A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX:…

Here we go again, ASX flat as lockdown begins, Costa Group tanks, AMP sued The ASX200 (ASX: XJO) added just 2.4 points on Thursday after the Victorian Government sent the entire state into another lockdown. The news is expected to hit the economy to the tune of $1 billion but the market remains immune, with the IT sector once…

Dip buyers emerge, ASX moves higher, EML Payments enters trading halt, Nuix continues to fall The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) fell throughout the day despite a positive open, finishing 0.1% higher as dip buyers emerged following last week’s unexpected sell-off. The IT and energy sectors were the stories of the day, with the former returning to normal heading 1.2% higher…

ASX hits 14-month high, ANZ dividend surprise, Nearmap upgrades revenue guidance  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) reached a 14-month high, adding 0.4% and once again nearing a record. The primary driver was the healthcare sector, up 1.1%, with key constituent CSL (ASX:CSL) up 2.4% offering the majority of the support. Private hospital, imaging, and COVID-19 testing firm Healius (ASX:HLS) finished flat despite reporting…

ASX bounces back, BNPL reports, Ramsay (ASX:RHC) reinstates dividend  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished 0.8% higher following a strong US lead overnight, with healthcare and materials leading the way, up 1.7% and 1.4% respectively. Ramsay Healthcare (ASX:RHC) was the standout, jumping 7.7% after reinstating their dividend at 48.5 cents per share. The private hospital operator reported a ‘resilient’ result,…

ASX200 lower on bond rates, Crown (ASX:CWN) to face commission, Costa Group (ASX:CGC) boosted by avocados  The ASX200 finished 0.2% lower on a mixed day for the market, with resources and materials leading the way adding 2.6% ahead of a bumper dividend season. Most of the weakness came from the healthcare and IT sectors as the 10-year…