With reporting season now over, we look over the results to identify some of the S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) shares that delivered the highest increases in interim dividends this year.
Income investors, take note. Some of these ASX 200 shares will pay boosted dividends because of higher commodity prices. Others are raising their dividends due to improvements in their businesses.
Either way, dividends have always been a great source of passive income. But they're even more important in today's economy, with interest rates rising. One Wall Street veteran says total returns on stock markets around the world are 'going to come much more from dividends' over the near term.
All of these companies below delivered a 25%-or-more boost to their interim dividends for FY23.
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Is this the biggest booster among the ASX 200 shares?
It was always going to be hard for any ASX 200 share to beat the inevitable mammoth dividend increase delivered by Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).
And Australia's biggest pure-play coal miner did not disappoint, lavishing a 300% boost to its interim dividend on investors thanks to a record half-year net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.8 billion.
The ASX 200 mining share will pay 32 cents per share fully franked on 10 March.
The record profit was due to skyrocketing coal prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ensuing global energy crisis.
This also led to the Whitehaven share price screaming 261% higher in 2022, making it the best-performing share of the year.
Other companies splashing the cash
ASX financial share Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) will pay an 87% higher interim dividend in FY23 due to an 87% boost to its profit in 1H FY23. Hub24 shares will pay 14 cents per share fully franked on 18 April.
QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) revealed its full-year results this earnings season. QBE declared a fully franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, up 57% on the final dividend for FY21. The QBE dividend will be paid on 14 April.
IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) reported a 62% NPAT boost in 1H FY23. The ASX 200 education provider announced a 55% increase in its interim dividend to 21 cents per share. The 25%-franked dividend will be paid on 31 March.
The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) dividend was doubled this earnings season. The ASX energy share will pay investors a fully franked interim dividend of 2 cents per share on 31 March.
Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL) reported a 17.3% NPAT bump to $24.4 million in 1H FY23, which resulted in a 38% increase to its dividend. The ASX 200 vitamin supplements company will pay 87 cents per share fully franked on 28 March.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) delivered its full-year results this earnings season. The company reported an underlying NPAT of US$5.23 billion, up 223% and a record for the ASX energy share.
Woodside boosted its final dividend by 37% to US$1.44 per share fully franked, payable on 5 April.
Finally, Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) reported record first-half sales of $1.96 billion, up 15% year over year.
The ASX 200 retail share will pay a fully franked interim dividend of 34 cents per share, up 26%, on 14 April.
