The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price is down 3.1% in early trade on Monday.
Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed on Friday trading for $9.60. In early morning trade on Monday, shares are trading for $9.30.
So, why is the Bendigo Bank share price sliding lower today?
What are ASX 200 investors considering?
With the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) up 0.3%, most of the selling pressure on the Bendigo Bank share price appears to stem from the fact the stock is trading ex-dividend today.
The bank reported its half-year financial results on 20 February (1H FY23).
With statutory net profits increasing 49% from 1H FY22 to reach $249 million, the bank declared a fully franked interim dividend of 29 cents per share. The Bendigo Bank share price closed up 1.8% on the day.
Investors buying the bank stock today will no longer be eligible to receive that payout. Hence the lower opening price today, with the stock down 30 cents per share, almost equivalent to its dividend.
Commenting on the bank's dividend payout, CEO Marnie Baker said:
The board has declared a fully franked dividend of 29.0 cents per share, an increase of 9.4% on the prior half. A DRP (dividend reinvestment plan) has also been announced.
With APRA's approval the Board intends to neutralise the impact of the DRP by arranging for a third party to purchase the shares on market rather than issue additional shares.
Eligible investors can expect to receive that payment on 31 March.
At Friday's closing share price, that represents a yield of 3.0%. Add in the 26.5 cents per share final dividend payout from September, and Bendigo Bank shares pay a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 5.8%.
"These decisions support our strong capital position and our business outlook," Baker said.
That includes the bank's "expectation of residential lending growth at or above system over the long term while balancing our commitment to support our shareholders with a reasonable return on their investment," she added.
Bendigo Bank share price snapshot
As you can see in the chart below, the Bendigo Bank share price is up 2.3% over the past 12 months, despite this morning's retrace. Including the 55.5 cps in dividends, the bank's shares have returned 8.5% over the full year.
