The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) dividend isn't quite what it was this time last year.
This morning, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) listed mining giant reported its half-year results for the six months ending 31 December (1H FY23)
Those results showed the miner is still making hay, with revenue of US$25.7 billion and profits after tax of US$6.5 billion.
Yet year on year the results were significantly lower, with revenue down 16% from 1H FY22 and profits down 32%.
What about the BHP dividend?
As you'd expect, the lower profits led to a lower dividend payout.
The BHP board declared an interim, fully franked dividend of 90 US cents. That's down 40% from the US$1.50 interim dividend paid out last year.
The current 90 cents per share payment works out to a total return to shareholders of US$4.6 billion and a 69% payout ratio.
The record date for the dividend payout is 10 March 2023 with payment due on 30 March.
Eligible shareholders wanting to participate in BHP's dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) need to do so by 13 March.
Investors appear underwhelmed with the results. In late morning trade, shares in the ASX 200 miner are down 2%.
As my Fool colleague James Mickleboro pointed out this morning, "BHP has beaten Goldman's dividend estimate of 88 US cents per share, but it has fallen short of the consensus estimate of 98 US cents per share."
"Naturally, this will disappoint investors but it may not come as much of a surprise," Josh Gilbert, market analyst at eToro said.
"BHP's pending acquisition of Oz Minerals will be critical to future growth with the focus towards copper and nickel, two commodities that are a focal point in Australia's clean-energy transition," Gilbert added.
Copper is currently the second biggest revenue generator for the big miner.
