Is South32 an ASX dividend stock?

We breakdown South32's dividend history and yield.

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Key points
  • South32 is, indeed, a dividend paying share 
  • It's been paying shareholders a portion of its profits since financial year 2016 
  • Over the last 12 months, South32 has given investors around 19.3 cents worth of dividends 

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) is one of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)'s many dividend paying resource shares.

In fact, the diversified mining and metals company started paying dividends shortly after it was spun out of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) in 2015.

At market close on Friday, the South32 share price closed at $4.84, 4.91% lower than its previous close.

While that's a significant drop, it's far from alone in the red. The ASX 200 also finished in the red, down 15.7%.

Additionally, the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) had a bad day, plunging 3.40%.

Let's take a look at South32's dividends and the yield the ASX 200 share is currently trading on.

A female CSL investor looking happy holds a big fan of Australian cash notes in her hand representing strong dividends being paid to her

Image source: Getty Images

A breakdown of South32's dividend history and yield

South32 shares hit the market in May of 2015, taking many of BHP's alumina, aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc assets with it.

Though, the company didn't pay a dividend for the first 12 months of its listed life. The first payout handed to South32's investors came at the end of financial year 2016.

Then, shareholders were given an unfranked dividend worth approximately 1.3 cents per share. In the company's defence, its share price was trading at around $2 at that point.

Fortunately, both the company's dividends and share price have all risen since then. Not to mention, it started offering franked dividends in financial year 2017.

The most recent payout investors received from South32 was its interim dividend for financial year 2022.

That saw shareholders handed a fully franked dividend worth approximately 11.9 cents for each South32 share they owned.

Previous to that, its final dividend for financial year 2021 and accompanying special dividend totalled around 7.4 cents per share, fully franked.

That means the company was trading with a trailing dividend yield of 3.79% at Thursday's close.

And, if there is to be a silver lining to Friday's tumble, at its current share price, South32 has a dividend yield of 4.01%.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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