S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dividend share Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) looks to be in the process of putting a difficult year behind it.
Shares in the Aussie agribusiness came under pressure in the latter months of 2024 amid low livestock prices, lower crop protection margins, and subdued client sentiment.
At Tuesday's closing price of $6.47, Elders shares are down 21.5% over 12 months.
More recently, however, the ASX 200 dividend share has gained 11.17% since the April 22 market close.
On the passive income front, the stock continues to trade at an attractive yield. That's despite cutting its full-year 2024 dividend payout by 20% to 40.7 cents per share, 60% franked.
At Tuesday's closing price, this sees Elders shares trading on a partly franked dividend yield of 6.3%.
And according to MPC Markets' Mark Gardner, the year ahead is looking promising for the company (courtesy of The Bull).
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Should I buy the ASX 200 dividend share today?
"Elders is an Australian agribusiness," said Gardner, who has a buy recommendation on the ASX 200 dividend share. "The Australian agricultural sector is enjoying a strong year in terms of value and production."
According to Gardner:
Favourable conditions in the north and west are supporting record or near-record production of grain. In the livestock sector, the Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) and the National Young Cattle indicator (NYCI) were recently at year highs.
Atop the passive income on offer, Gardner also has a bullish outlook for the Elders share price.
"The company plans to release its half year results and announce its interim dividend on May 26. We expect the shares to increase during 2025," he said.
What to watch for with Elders shares
The ASX 200 dividend share could well get a boost on the heels of the company's half-year results, judging by the strong conditions in much of the Aussie agricultural sector.
And 29 May is another key date to watch for Elders.
That's when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is scheduled to release its delayed decision on the ASX 200 dividend share's $475 million acquisition of Delta Agribusiness.
Delta Agribusiness, if you're unfamiliar, provides rural products and advisory services through a network of 68 locations and 40 independent wholesale customers.
Over the 12 months to 30 June 2024, Delta reported revenue of $835 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $53 million.
Commenting on the proposed acquisition when it was first announced on 18 November, Elders CEO Mark Allison said:
Delta provides us with greater exposure to key local retail markets as well as a leading agronomy and farm advisory team to complement and extend our products and services range for rural and regional Australia.
