There were a number of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) companies on watch in the August earnings season. While growth shares generally reported strong results, investors had their eye on the ASX 200 dividend shares as well.
Here are a few of the big names that increased their payouts to shareholders in the last month or so.
ASX 200 dividend shares that increased payouts
1. WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) has long been known as a "WAAAX" growth share. However, the Aussie tech group boosted its dividend by a whopping 141% increase in its full-year dividend.
WiseTech reported a 63% jump in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to $206 million. The group announced a 3.85 cents per share dividend, up 141% on its FY20 final dividend and more than the 3.30 cents per share payout for the entirety of FY20.
The payout surge sent the ASX 200 dividend share soaring in August as investors processed the surprise result.
2. CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)
CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) also increased its payout to shareholders after the Aussie biotech's strong FY21 result.
CSL reported a 10% jump in constant-currency net profit to US$2.375 billion and bumped its dividend as a result.
The group's final dividend of US$1.18 per share translated to a full-year dividend of US$2.22 per share – up 10% on FY20's payout.
The news didn't stop the ASX 200 dividend share from sliding lower on its results day before ultimately climbing 6% higher in August.
3. Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)
Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) was yet another ASX 200 dividend share to boost its dividend in the latest earnings season.
The Aussie retail conglomerate reported a 16.2% jump in net profit to $2,421 million for FY21. The group announced a 90 cent per share ordinary dividend to bring its full-year dividend up to 178 cents – a 17.1% increase on the FY20 payout.
That doesn't include the $2 per share proposed return of capital as Wesfarmers looks to give back some spare cash to its investors.
