Yesterday, we got one of the first earnings reports of the season from a major blue chip share. That blue chip share was healthcare stock CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL). We discussed all of the major details at the time, so today, let's dig into the new CSL dividend.
If you missed our initial report, let's quickly go over the highlights in a nutshell.
For the six months to 31 December, CSL reported a 5% rise in revenues (on a constant currency basis) to US$8.48 billion. Net profits after tax were up 7% to US$2.04 billion.
Even so, investors didn't seem to know how to take the results. Upon market open yesterday, CSL shares initially lifted about 1.6%, but finished the day down 4.95% at $256.96 a share.
But let's talk dividends.
Yesterday, CSL revealed that its next interim dividend would come in at US$1.30 per share. The final amount in Australian dollars has yet to be determined, but the company has told investors to expect around $2.08 per share in the local currency. Like all of the company's payouts last year, this dividend will come unfranked.
This latest payout represents a 9.24% rise on last year's interim dividend of US$1.19 per share.
CSL stock will trade ex-dividend for this payout on 10 March. Investors who have CSL shares to their name at the market close on 9 March can then expect the dividend paycheque to arrive on 9 April.
CSL does technically operate a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP). However, this plan isn't active for this payment, so shareholders have no option other than to receive the dividend in cash.
Together with the final dividend of US$1.45 ($2.17), the latest interim dividend takes CSL's full-year payouts to US$2.75 per share, or $4.38, at current exchange rates.
That gives CSL a forward dividend yield of 1.7% at yesterday's closing price. CSL currently trades on a trailing yield of 1.54%.
CSL shares have had a rough 12 months, even before yesterday's selloff. As it currently stands, the healthcare giant is nursing an 11.47% loss over the past 12 months. That includes an 8.6% drop in 2025 to date.
The company has still yet to reclaim its pre-COVID 2020 high of over $340 a share.
As it stands today, CSL shares are trading on a market capitalisation of $124.4 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 29.65.
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