The Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL) dividend is on the rise following a bumper full year FY21 result announced on Monday.
However, the same couldn't be said about its shares which sold off sharply yesterday after Sonic's results were delivered to the market.
Let's take a look at what played out:
Sonic Healthcare share price slides on results announcement
The Sonic Healthcare share price fell flat on Monday despite revealing an 81% jump in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) to $2.6 billion and a 149% surge in net profit to $1.3 billion.
At the morning bell, Sonic Healthcare opened relatively flat, down just 0.19% to $42.75. However, significant selling pressure within the first two hours of trade drove it down 4.41% to an intraday low of $40.94.
The Sonic Healthcare share price bounced off those lows by market close, finishing the day 2.76% lower at $41.65.
Encouragingly, the company's shares are trading higher on Tuesday, up 2.09% to $42.52 at the time of writing.
COVID-19 driving earnings
Sonic Healthcare flagged that its financial performance has been "enhanced" by its COVID-19 testing revenue.
The results flagged some recent volatility in testing revenue, with COVID-19 PCR volumes lower in the second half of the year compared to the first half.
However, it said that volumes have improved in the new financial year due to the emergence and increasing spread of the Delta variant.
The uncertainty surrounding its COVID-19 testing volumes could be a contributing factor to the selloff on Monday.
As a result, the company said that it will not provide any earnings guidance for FY22 due to the unpredictability of COVID-19.
Sonic Healthcare dividend edges higher
Sonic Healthcare declared a final dividend of 55 cents per share, franked to 65% (previously 30%).
This brings the company's total FY21 dividend to 91 cents per share, a 7.1% increase compared to FY20.
Sonic Healthcare dividend key dates
The Sonic Healthcare share price will go ex-dividend on Tuesday, 7 September and the dividend will be paid out on Wednesday, 22 September.
