Although the last official ASX earnings season is well behind us now, some ASX 200 shares like to report their latest numbers fashionably late. Grocery and hardware supply stock Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) is one of those ASX 200 stocks, with investors finding out this morning just how much the next Metcash dividend will be worth.
As we covered earlier today, it was an interesting set of numbers for investors to digest.
Metcash reported a 0.1% rise in revenues to $8.48 billion for the six months to 31 October, compared to the same period in 2024. That was helped by growth in food, liquor, and hardware. However, they were significantly hindered by tobacco sales, which continue to haemorrhage. Without tobacco, revenues were up 4.5%.
Meanwhile, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) lifted 2% to $367.2 million. But total earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) dropped 2.4% to $240.2 million.
On the bottom line, Metcash revealed a reported profit after tax of $142.2 million. That's up 0.3% from last year's half.
It seems the market wasn't impressed with what Metcash had to show for itself today, though. At present, Metcash shares are down a nasty 9.2% to $3.36. That perhaps indicates that the market was expecting to see better numbers. Saying that, the stock has been significantly impacted by the ASX's issues today. As such, investors may wish to take that with a grain of salt.
But let's talk Metcash dividends.
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Metcash holds its dividend steady
This morning, the company revealed that its latest dividend will be worth 8.5 cents per share. It will come fully franked, as the payouts from Metcash tend to do.
This dividend matches last year's interim payout exactly. However, it is lower than the 9.5 cents per share final dividend investors enjoyed back in August.
This latest interim dividend will find its way to shareholders' bank accounts on 28 January next year. To be eligible, though, investors will need to have Metcash shares against their name by the close of trading on 11 December next week. That's before the company trades ex-dividend on 12 December.
Eligible investors also have the choice to opt in to Metcash's dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) if they wish to receive additional shares in lieu of the traditional cash payment (at zero discount). The cut-off for the DRP is close-of-business on 16 December.
Since Metcash's dividend is flat year-on-year, its current (at the time of writing) dividend yield of 5.36% holds steady going forward.
