3 ASX 200 shares trading ex-dividend next week

These companies will soon be taking dividends off the table…

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We're well and truly past August reporting season but some companies in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) operate on different financial calendars to the rest.

As a result, some ASX 200 shares have released their full-year results this month. And in the process, they've also declared dividends.

With every dividend comes an ex-dividend date, which marks the day that a company's shares no longer trade with rights to the recently-declared dividend.

In other words, investors who purchase shares on or after the ex-dividend date won't be eligible for the upcoming payment. 

But since shares typically drop on the day they turn ex-dividend, investors may be able to pick up shares at a reduced price.

Without further ado, here are three ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend next week.

GrainCorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

First up, GrainCorp handed in its full-year FY22 results last week and delighted shareholders by declaring a special dividend.

All up, the ASX 200 agribusiness announced a fully franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, which will be paid on 14 December.

GrainCorp shares will turn ex-dividend for this payment on Tuesday. So, to be eligible for this dividend, investors must be on GrainCorp's share register by the closing bell on Monday.

FY22 was a record year for GrainCorp as net profit after tax (NPAT) rocketed by 173% to $380 million.

Each of the company's business segments delivered an increase in activity and volumes. This was driven by more grain handled and exported, higher oilseed crush volumes, and stronger food sales.

The company noted that against a backdrop of operational challenges, global demand for Australian grains, oilseeds, and vegetable oils remained strong throughout the year.

This helped GrainCorp to dish up a three-fold increase in its annual dividends to 54 cents per share, fully franked. With GrainCorp shares last trading at $8.27, this spins up a trailing dividend yield of 6.5%.

Taking out the special dividend, this yield comes in at 4.6%, which grosses up to 6.6%, including franking credits. 

Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

The next cab off the rank is ASX 200 slot machine and casino game manufacturer Aristocrat, which also released its FY22 results last week.

Aristocrat shares will be going ex-dividend on Wednesday, trading without claims to the company's fully franked final dividend of 26 cents per share.

Aristocrat doesn't have a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP), so all eligible shareholders will receive this payment in cash on 16 December.

FY22 was another year of growth for Aristocrat. On the top line, revenue climbed 18% to $5.6 billion, while NPAT jumped 30% to $1.0 billion.

The company said this growth reflected sustained investment in top-performing product portfolios, differentiating capabilities, increased operational diversification, and business resilience.

Aristocrat's North American gaming operations and global outright sales division were standouts.

Across the financial year, Aristocrat returned $660 million to shareholders through dividends and an on-market share buyback.

The ASX 200 gaming company dialled up its annual dividends by 27% in FY22, declaring total dividends of 52 cents. This puts Aristocrat shares on a trailing dividend yield of 1.5%, which grosses up to 2.1%.

Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL)

Rounding out this trio of ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend next week is investment management business Pendal.

As of Thursday, Pendal shares will be trading without rights to the company's fully franked final dividend of 3.5 cents per share. 

Like GrainCorp and Aristocrat, Pendal isn't running a DRP for this payment. So, shareholders will have no choice but to receive this dividend in cash on 15 December.

It's been a busy year for Pendal, with its proposed takeover by Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT) currently awaiting shareholder approval.

Perpetual first lobbed a bid for Pendal in April this year and there's been plenty of back and forth between the two parties since. 

Just last week, the terms of the offer were revised again, changing the split between cash and scrip.

If the deal proceeds, Pendal shareholders will receive one Perpetual share for every 7 Pendal shares, plus $1.65 cash. However, this cash component will be reduced by 3.5 cents to account for Pendal's FY22 final dividend.

Based on Perpetual's last closing price, this currently values Pendal at around $5.28 per share. In comparison, Pendal shares last swapped hands on-market for $4.83.

Pendal shareholders are set to vote on the proposal next month on 23 December.

Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh 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 Scott Phillips.

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