The whopper Whitehaven dividend is being paid today. Here's what you need to know

Whitehaven investors are about to get their largest interim dividend ever.

Sebastian Bowen

Author Bio Sebastian Bowen has been a Motley Fool contributor since late 2018. Sebastian found his passion for writing and educating others about shares and all things finance after completing his studies in political, economic and social science and enjoys bringing this passion to life at the Fool. His investment philosophy is a simple one – buying high-quality companies at prices that make sense. When he’s not researching his next investment at all hours of the morning, Sebastian enjoys classic movies and likes to unwind with a good book, newspaper or record. Areas of Expertise Dividend investing ETFs Education Bachelor of Political, Economic, and Social Sciences (Government and International Relations), University of Sydney Social Media X/Twitter Favorite Investment Quote "In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine." – Benjamin Graham

Published March 10, 2023 9:21 am AEDT

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) shareholders had a very nice day yesterday. Thursday's trading session saw the Whitehaven share price spike by a pleasing 5.55% up to $7.42 a share.

But no doubt today will also be a happy day for shareholders, regardless of what the Whitehaven share price does. That's because today is payday for the latest (and monstrous) Whitehaven dividend.

Last month, Whitehaven delivered its latest earnings report, covering the half-year to 31 December 2022. It was an objectively impressive report, with Whitehaven announcing a 164% rise in revenues, as well as a massive 423% surge in net profits after tax (NPAT).

This enabled the company to announce a gargantuan interim dividend of 32 cents per share, fully franked. That's up an eye-watering 300% on last year's interim dividend of 8 cents per share, and the largest interim dividend Whitehaven has ever forked out.

A female coal miner wearing a white hardhat and orange high-vis vest holds a lump of coal and smiles. — Image source: Getty Images

Whitehaven shareholders set for dividend jackpot

As we warned last month, the ex-dividend date for this payment was on 23 February. So any shareholders who opened a position in Whitehaven after that date will miss out on this dividend.

But those lucky investors who had the shares in their name before 23 February are set to see this shareholder payment hit their bank accounts today.

Together with Whitehaven's final dividend of 40 cents per share, also fully franked, that we saw in the back half of last year, this company has now paid out a total of 72 cents per share over the past 12 months.

That gives Whitehaven shares a trailing dividend yield of 9.7% on yesterday's closing share price. That grosses up to a whopping 13.96% with the value of those full franking credits.

So no doubt today is a happy day for most Whitehaven shareholders.

Saying that, Whitehaven has had a rough start to 2023. Year to date, this ASX 200 energy share is down around 16%, as well as being down more than 33% from Whitehaven's 52-week high of $11.04 a share. But even so, Whitehaven still remains up a happy 88% or so over the past 12 months:

So despite the rough start to 2023 Whitehaven shares have had, it's hard to feel too sorry for shareholders of this ASX 200 coal share today.

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