The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price continues to struggle this year, but what about the company's dividends?
After falling to a 52-week low of $240.10 in February, shares in the global biotech leader have travelled sideways.
On Friday, CSL shares closed 1.4% higher at $271.25 apiece.
This is in stark contrast to when the company's share price registered double-digit gains year-on-year before COVID-19.
Nonetheless, the CSL board has continued to pay dividends to shareholders in times of economic uncertainty.
Let's dive in to see if the CSL dividends have provided meaningful returns to shareholders over the past five years.
What is CSL's dividend history?
Here's a short list I have put together on CSL's most recent dividend history.
- October 2017 – 92 cents (final)
- April 2018 – 101 cents (interim)
- October 2018 – 128 cents (final)
- April 2019 – 120 cents (interim)
- October 2019 – 145 cents (final)
- April 2020 – 147 cents (interim)
- October 2020 – 147 cents (final)
- April 2021 – 135 cents (interim)
- September 2021 – 159 cents (final)
- April 2022 – 142 cents (interim)
When adding the above amounts, CSL has paid a total dividend of $13.16 per share over the past five years.
However, investors have also seen the CSL share price rise by around 87% during that time.
This means that even a small investment in the global biotech leader's shares would have reaped some serious benefits.
Currently, CSL has a trailing dividend yield of 1.15%.
CSL share price summary
Despite being one of the best places to park your money over the long term, CSL shares have lost around 8% year to date.
Volatility across global markets due to high inflation levels and rate hikes has been the norm in 2022.
Based on valuation grounds, CSL presides a market capitalisation of approximately $126.09 billion.
