Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) was one of the first major ASX 200 shares to drop its earnings report in August.
On 9 August, we got a look at the books of the ASX's largest bank for the 2023 financial year. As we covered at the time, CBA reported a 13% increase in operating income to $27.24 billion.
Despite a 5% rise in operating expenses to $11.65 billion, CBA managed a 6% lift in cash net profit after tax (NPAT) to $10.16 billion. Commonwealth Bank's net interest margin for the year also rose by 17 basis points to 2.07%.
Pleasingly, CBA also declared a final dividend of $2.40 for FY23, which brought 2023's total dividends to $4.50 per share, fully franked of course.
At the time, investors seemed very impressed by these earnings, with the market sending the CBA share price up a healthy 2.58% on the day they were released.
However, zooming out, the market's reaction doesn't quite look as enthusiastic.
CBA shares started August at $105.71 a share. But yesterday, the bank closed at $102.18. Thus, CBA just recorded an August loss of 3.24%. It could have been worse too. Last week, we saw the Commonwealth Bank share price get to a low of under $98.50 a share.
So after this eventful August, what might lie in store for CBA shares in September, now that spring has sprung?
What's happening with CBA shares this September?
Well, after the wild ride that August has seen, it looks like September will be a relatively quiet month for the bank. CBA's financial calendar shows no events lined up for September. And we obviously won't be hearing from the bank regarding any internal financials since we've just got a look at CBA's latest earnings.
Investors have the bank's annual general meeting to look forward to of course. But that's only scheduled for 11 October.
However, there is one exception to the lack of events that CBA's calendar holds for September — and a date that all CBA investors are no doubt looking forward to. On 28 September, investors are in line to receive the latest dividend payment from their Commonwealth Bank shares.
In its August earnings, CBA announced its final dividend for FY23 would come in at $2.40 per share, fully franked. Not only is that the largest single dividend CommBank has ever paid out, it also takes the bank's full-year dividends for 2023 to $4.50 a share, another record high.
CBA has already traded ex-dividend for this payment, so only investors who owned the shares prior to 16 August will receive this dividend payout. But it will probably prove to be the highlight of September for CBA shareholders.
As of yesterday's close, the CBA share price remains up 1.12% in 2023 to date:
At yesterday's closing price, CBA shares are offering a dividend yield of 4.4%.
