The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) dividend has just been announced with the FY26 half-year result for the six months to 30 June 2026.
Woodside is Australia's largest ASX oil and gas share with projects across Australia, Africa and North America.
The company regularly gives investors a sizeable dividend every six months and this dividend is another pleasing payout.
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Woodside dividend
The ASX oil and gas share reported a 13% rise in operating revenue to US$7.4 billion, underlying net profit rose 7% to US$1.33 billion, free cash flow increased 159% to US$352 million and statutory net profit grew 27% to US$1.67 billion.
Woodside benefited from a 20% rise in its average realised price to US$74 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). Gas production fell 21% to 46.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), liquids production fell 4% to 39.4 MMboe, and ammonia production was 1 MMboe.
The 36% decline of capital expenditure to US$1.6 billion helped the company's free cash flow. However, operating cash flow declined 10% to US$3 billion.
Following all of those numbers, Woodside's board of directors decided to increase the interim dividend per share by 8% to US 57 cents. This payout represents a dividend payout ratio of 80% of underlying net profit after tax.
At the time of writing, the interim payout translates into a dividend yield of 2.4% excluding franking credits and 3.4% including franking credits.
When will the payout hit bank accounts?
Before we talk about the payment date of the upcoming Woodside dividend, we need to look at the ex-dividend date first.
The ex-dividend date is the cut-off date for eligibility for a dividend. Investors need to own shares by the end of trading on the previous trading day.
For Woodside's interim dividend, the ex-dividend date is 3 September 2026, so investors need to own Woodside shares by the end of trading on 2 September 2026.
After that, the dividend will be paid on 25 September 2026. So, investors don't have long to wait between now and payment day.
The dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) remains suspended, according to Woodside.
I think the dividend is generous considering it represents a dividend payout ratio of 80% of underlying profit.
The company continues to invest in building its new projects of Scarborough, Trion and Louisiana LNG, which could all help unlock higher earnings once they're completed. Woodside is also investing in exploration to help unlock a further stage of growth beyond the near future.
