Here are 3 ASX shares to keep an eye on today, as they're likely to fall for no initially obvious reason. Of course, they are 3 of the shares that will be trading ex-dividend today.
As most market watchers will be aware, shareholders who buy into a company after its ex-dividend date aren't eligible for its upcoming dividend. Instead, the next dividend will go to the seller of any shares traded from today onwards.
So, which ASX shares might struggle as they surpass that milestone today? Let's take a look.
ASX shares trading ex-dividend today
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)
Financial year 2021 (FY21) was productive for Sigma. The company increased its revenue by 5.5% and upped its underlying net profit after tax by 23.7% compared to FY20.
As a result, the pharmaceutical wholesaler, distributor, and pharmacy franchisor is giving its shareholders a 1 cent fully franked dividend. That leaves Sigma with a dividend yield of around 1.59%.
The company's upcoming dividend is payable on 8 October.
The Sigma share price has fallen 1.64% to trade at 60 cents at the time of writing.
However, that's not the only news that could be moving the sigma share price today. The company has announced a new CEO will be taking the reins in February 2022.
Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX)
Atlas posted incredible results for FY21, which included an 845% increase to its net profit after tax (excluding notable items) compared to that of FY20.
As a result, the toll road operator provided a 15.5 cent unfranked dividend to its shareholders, giving it an impressive 3.61% dividend yield.
The company's dividend will be paid on 5 October.
So far today, the Atlas share price has fallen 3.48% on the back of its ex-dividend date. It is currently trading at $6.65.
BSP Financial Group Ltd (ASX: BFL)
Weathering what could have been an ex-dividend-induced storm is the BSP Financial share price, which hasn't moved at all today.
BSP Financial is set to provide its shareholders with a 1.5 cent dividend (converted from Papua New Guinean Kina at the current exchange rate of AUD$1 to PGK2.56).
The dividend follows from the company's productive FY21, over which it increased its net profit after tax by 17.6% on that of FY20.
It will be paid on 18 October.
