The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price has started the last day of this week's trading with a bang. At the time of writing, Santos shares are going for $6.36 apiece, up a very healthy 2.5% today so far.
Yet the Santos share price has been struggling this year. In 2021 so far, Santos shares are still down around 1% year to date. That's a fate shared by many ASX energy shares though – perhaps reflecting the wild and unpredictable year that the global economy has faced so far.
So today, let's check out how the Santos dividend compares to other ASX energy shares in its sector. After all, many investors are attracted to miners and drillers for the potential dividend income that is available in this corner of the ASX.
How do Santos' dividends stack up?
On the current share price, Santos has a dividend yield of 2.2%. That comes from the company's latest pair of dividend payments. These consisted of a March final dividend of 6.32 cents per share, as well as the interim dividend Santos announced last month, which will hit shareholders' bank accounts on 21 September. Both payments are fully franked, meaning that Santos' current grossed-up yield stands at 3.16%.
So how does that compare to Santos' peers in the ASX energy space?
Well, let's run through some. The ASX's largest pureplay energy share is Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL). It's currently trading at a share price of $20.03, which gives Woodside shares a current dividend yield of 2.87%.
Turning to Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT), and Beach shares are up 1.11% so far today to $1.09 a share. That gives this driller a dividend yield of 1.83%.
Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) has a similar, although smaller, yield on the table right now. At a price of $3.89 a share, Oil Search is putting up a yield of 1.35% today.
Although Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) is more of a downstream energy company with its refining and retailing businesses, it's still an ASX energy share. Today, Ampol is offering a dividend yield of 2.62% at its current price of $28.65 a share.
So as we can see, Santos' current dividend yield is pretty much right in the middle of its ASX energy peers. "Not too hot, not too cold", some investors might say.
In addition to having a dividend yield of 2.2% at the current Santos share price, the company also has a market capitalisation of $13.25 billion.
