The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is once again selling off this Wednesday, losing the momentum we saw yesterday, and dropping substantially so far this session. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 has slumped 1.4%, and is back to around 7,400 points. It's an even direr story with CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares, though.
This ASX 200 healthcare stock is currently down a horrid 4.75% so far this hump day, sitting at just $234.13 a share. That was after the company descended as low as $229.22 this morning, a new 52-week low for CSL.
Thankfully for CSL shareholders, there is a silver lining to this rather woeful Wednesday. It's dividend pay day.
Dividend incoming from CSL shares
Back in February, we discussed CSL's latest earnings report, which covered the six months to 31 December. As we reported at the time, these earnings revealed that CSL has increased its revenues by 5% (in constant currency terms) over the period to US$8.48 billion. Net profit after tax rose 7% to US$2.04 billion, while net profits after tax before amortisation jumped 5% to US$2.11 billion.
This all allowed CSL to unveil an interim dividend of US$1.30 per share, unfranked.
That's a 9.24% rise over last year's interim dividend of US$1.19 per share. Together with CSL's final dividend of US$1.45 per share that was doled out last October, it takes CSL's 12-month dividend payout to US$2.75 per share.
This dividend closed its eligibility to new investors back on 10 March when the company traded ex-dividend. However, for eligible investors who had CSL shares to their name at market close on 9 March, your long wait is over. Today is dividend pay day for CSL shares.
Yep, eligible investors will see this US$1.30 per share payment arrive in their brokerage accounts sometime today. The payment is worth $2.07 per share in our local currency.
That's only if they haven't opted for CSL's dividend reinvestment plan (DRP), though. A DRP is in operation for this payment, meaning that investors could have chosen to receive additional shares in lieu of the traditional cash payout.
CSL share price snapshot
CSL shares have had a rough few weeks, months, and years. After today's precipitous drop, this ASX 200 healthcare giant is down 16.7% in 2025 to date, and down 16.45% over the past 12 months. Investors are also nursing a 28.9% loss since April 2020.
At the current CSL share price, the company is trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 25, and a dividend yield of 1.27%.
