The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) dividend is on the rise after the company released its FY21 results this morning.
Wesfarmers growth momentum continues in FY21
Wesfarmers delivered a well-rounded result despite concerns that sales would moderate significantly in the second half. Key financial highlights include:
- Revenue rose 10% to $33,941 million
- Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) lifted 18.8% to $3,776 million
- Net profit after tax increased 16.2% to $2,421 million
- Basic earnings per share (EPS) up 16.2% to 214.1 cents per share
- Final ordinary dividend of 90 cents per share
- Full-year ordinary dividend of 178 cents per share
Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott commented on the company's core retail businesses saying:
Bunnings, Kmart Group and Officeworks delivered strong sales and earnings growth for the year. While customer demand remained resilient, sales growth in Bunnings, Officeworks and Catch moderated from mid-March as the businesses began to cycle elevated demand following the onset of COVID-19 in the prior year.
Pleasingly, sales growth from mid-March remained strong on a two-year basis across all of the Group's retail businesses.
However, the Wesfarmers growth trajectory might face some hurdles in the near term, with management noting:
Given the impact of lockdowns in recent months and the prospect of continued trading restrictions, earnings in the Group's retail businesses during the first half of the 2022 financial year may be below the prior corresponding period.
Wesfarmers dividend jumps 17%
Wesfarmers' directors determined the company would pay a full-franked final ordinary dividend of 90 cents per share, reflecting the company's strong profit performance and dividend policy of distributing franking credits to shareholders.
This brings the company's total FY21 fully-franked ordinary dividend for the full year to 178 cents per share, up 17.1% on FY20.
At today's prices, this represents a dividend yield of approximately 2.78%.
Wesfarmers also announced a proposed return of capital to shareholders of $2.00 per share, subject to approval by Wesfarmers shareholders at its October annual general meeting.
Key dates for Wesfarmers dividend
The Wesfarmers share price will go ex-dividend on Wednesday, 1 September and be paid out on Thursday, 7 October.
