That's because the Federal Court of Australia has just made orders approving the proposed $1.88 billion takeover of the health supplements company by Kirin Holdings Company by way of a scheme of arrangement.

The next step will involve Blackmores lodging a copy of the court orders with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission tomorrow, at which time the scheme will become legally effective.

Once that is done, the company will request that the quotation of Blackmores shares on the ASX be suspended from close of trading on Friday.

When will Blackmores shares turn into cash?

Once the scheme becomes legally effective, eligible Blackmores shareholders will be sent a total of $91.71 cash per Blackmores share on the implementation date for the scheme. This is currently expected to be 10 August.

But the cash won't stop there. Kirin Holdings also approved the payment of a special dividend by Blackmores.

This will see eligible Blackmores shareholders receive a fully franked special dividend of $3.29 per share. At present, the company is planning to pay this dividend on 1 August 2023. This represents an attractive ~3.5% fully franked dividend yield at current prices.

Combined, this will mean shareholders receive a cash payment of $95 per share next month.

To be eligible for all the above, investors need to own Blackmores shares before they are suspended from trade at the end of tomorrow's session.

The post Blackmores takeover is official: Here's when to expect the cash for your shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors are recognising the elevated importance of dividends given share price volatility in the market today, largely due to macroeconomic factors.

High interest rates (currently at 4.1%) and inflation (currently at 5.6% per annum) have changed the investment arena, according to some international and local experts.

They say dividends will form a greater share of investors' returns than capital growth in the years ahead.

The next earnings season is imminent, with lots of ASX companies set to announce their next round of dividend payments in August.

So, if you're looking for income shares to add to your portfolio for the long term, we'd like to help.

In this article, we take a look at which ASX All Ords shares are trading on the highest yields right now.

We recently reported the top 10 ASX 200 large-cap shares for dividends and the top 10 ASX 200 mid-cap shares for dividends.

In this article, we exclude the ASX 200 to give you more options. So, the ASX dividend shares listed below are all ranked between 201 to 500 in the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

Insignia Financial shares pay the highest ASX dividends

According to data provided by TradingView, the top five ASX All Ords shares offering the best trailing dividend yields are as follows.

As you can see, there are slim pickings in terms of stocks outside the ASX 200 that pay high yields.

And as you can see in our other articles, the top 10 ASX 200 large-cap stocks for dividends pay yields of between 5.4% and 10.6%.

The top 10 ASX 200 mid-cap stocks for dividends pay yields of between 7.9% and 26.3%.

What's a trailing dividend yield?

Trailing dividend yields are calculated by taking the most recent total annual dividend amount paid by a company and dividing it by today's share price.

So, you need to bear in mind that trailing yields are based on the previous year's income. That means next year's dividends could be higher or lower, depending on what happens with each company.

Further reading on ASX dividends

Ready for more research?

If ASX 200 bank shares are more your style, we can tell you the brokers' dividend forecasts for FY24.

Another dividend strategy that may be worth pursuing is investing in stocks with a strong history of raising dividends.

Check out these 5 ASX 200 shares that have raised payouts every year for 10+ years.

Once you've identified some dividend shares you're interested in, conduct a ticker code search on our website. You'll find a vast library of articles on each company as well as their recent announcements.

Also remember, you can take your dividends as cash or reinvest them automatically through companies' dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs). 

In FY23, investors who reinvested their ASX dividends got a 54% boost to their annual returns.

The post Which ASX All Ords shares offer the best dividend yields? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because, next week shareholders will be given the opportunity to vote on the $1.88 billion takeover proposal tabled by Japanese giant, Kirin Holdings Company.

If they approve the deal, the ASX 200 share will cease trading in the days following the meeting.

But that won't be the only thing that happens. Blackmores will also then prepare to pay eligible shareholders a special dividend.

What special dividend is this ASX 200 stock paying?

This morning, Blackmores revealed that its board of directors has determined to pay a fully franked special dividend of $3.29 per share. This represents a ~3.5% yield at current levels.

The release reveals that to be eligible for this dividend you will need to be a shareholder on the record date of 26 July.

Though, with the ASX 200 stock scheduled to have its last trading day on 21 July before being suspended, you may have to get in earlier.

It is also worth noting that this special dividend, which is expected to be paid on 1 August, is conditional on the scheme becoming effective. If the scheme is voted down by shareholders or collapses for some other reason, then there will be no dividend.

The same applies to the cash consideration of $91.71 for the takeover. That is scheduled to be paid to eligible shareholders on 10 August if all goes to plan.

Board and major shareholder approval

The Blackmores' board unanimously recommends the scheme to shareholders. As does the company's largest shareholder, Marcus Blackmore, who holds or controls approximately 18% of its outstanding shares.

The post This ASX 200 stock just announced a special dividend. Here's the lowdown appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While a good number of ASX 200 shares climbed with the market, some recorded stronger gains than others.

For example, the shares listed below smashed the market after launching higher in April. Here's why they were on fire:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 index in April with a 37% gain. Interestingly, this network services company's shares were on course to record a disappointing monthly decline until the final trading day of the month. However, the release of a surprisingly positive quarterly update appears to have caused a short squeeze and led to Megaport's shares rocketing over 40% higher on Friday.

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL)

The Blackmores share price wasn't far behind with a gain of 35% in April. This was driven by news that Japan's Kirin has tabled a $95 cash per share takeover offer for the health supplements company. Blackmores has accepted the offer and will now let shareholders vote on it at an upcoming meeting. The deal values Blackmores at $1.85 billion.

Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH)

The Pointsbet share price was on form and charged 27% higher last month. Investors were buying this sports betting company's shares amid speculation that it will soon offload some of its operations. The most recent speculation is that PointsBet could sell its US operations for US$500 million and keep hold of its Australian arm. This would be more than its current market capitalisation.

Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)

The Corporate Travel Management share price was also a strong performer and rose 16% over the period. A key driver of this was the announcement of a major contract win. The corporate travel specialist won the Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services contract from the UK Home Office. Management estimates it to be worth nearly £1.6 billion in total transaction volume (TTV) over two years, which equates to approximately $3 billion Australian dollars.

The post These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ANZ's warning for businesses… and investors

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) CEO Shayne Elliott was in today's Australian, quoted as saying:

"It's been the fastest increase of interest rates globally in history. They have gone from zero to a hundred in a very short time.

"These businesses were set up in a different environment of low interest rates so many of them don't have any experience on how to deal through this."

Who are the 'these businesses' he's referring to?

"…it's starting to get rocky and the casualties will be those businesses with too much debt and those with no pricing power".

He's right.

And he's not just talking about small or unlisted businesses, either.

I've been saying it for a while… there will be opportunities (and risks) as we go back to the 'old normal'. Make sure you understand what you own, and the risks those companies face.

Another one bites the dust

Vitamin company Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL) (full disclosure: I'm a shareholder and former employee) seems destined to leave the ASX, having accepted a $95 per share bid from Japanese conglomerate Kirin (best known to Australians for its eponymous beer, but it also owns the old 'Lion Nathan' beer brands: XXXX, Tooheys and others).

Largest shareholder (and son of founder, Maurice Blackmore) Marcus Blackmore has committed to selling his shares, and the board has recommended the takeover, unless there's a higher bidder. The deal has to get regulatory approval, but that also seems likely.

I don't love the idea of the ASX losing yet another consumer branded business to an overseas buyer. But Kirin is notoriously long-term focused, and sees value in Blackmores. Value that Australian investors didn't seem to see. Perhaps Kirin is wrong. But if it's right, there's a lesson for investors – buyers that take a long term view often recognise more value than the ASX does, given its notoriously short-term view.

As individual investors, there's not much we can do to change the market… but we can learn some lessons and invest accordingly.

If the cap fits…

Look, I don't love getting involved in political fights – each team tends to think their side is whiter than white, while the other mob have never had a good idea in their lives – but I don't mind putting my head above the parapet on policy.

Or policies.

The federal government has today been reported as announcing a cap on the growth in NDIS spending. And is considering a cap on rental increases. That's after announcing a cap on the gas price and, in more familiar territory, a cap on Super balances (after which a different taxation arrangement applies).

I mean, I don't mind the odd Akubra, but as far as caps go, I think the government has me covered.

Now, before half of you send me hate mail and the other half are happy that I'm bagging the government, let me say the NDIS is a great scheme, but also seems prone to rorting and mismanagement. And that I'm in favour of large Super balances being taxed less generously. I also think we need to help people who can't afford power, and fix the broken rental system.

But you'll notice my comments, above, relate to the issues. And there's a difference between acknowledging a problem and believing that a solution – any solution – must be right.

We've had caps before. They don't work and create perverse outcomes. Better than nothing, you say? Maybe. But not as good as actual structural changes. And that's what governments (and Oppositions) should be focused on.

Quick takes

Overblown: The changes to the rate-setting committee of the RBA are underwhelming. The current board has got stuff wrong. But I'm not sure how a structural change makes any meaningful difference.

Underappreciated: As above, but with a twist. The new committee, composed of different people, may take the same approach as the current lot. Or a very different one. And they might be very good at the job. Or awful. In trying to 'solve' a current perceived problem, a new board adds a whole lot of uncertainty… right at a time when stability would have been much better.

Fascinating: Wow, is AI on the march. I have no preconceived view where it ends up, but when you consider what is now possible, using ChatGPT and other 'bots', it doesn't take much imagination to consider how meaningfully AI could impact many, many parts of our lives. The question is whether it becomes its own thing, or just an enabler, much the way we use the internet today.

Where I've been looking: I've written before about what I expect to be the continued growth of online retail, both from pure-play companies and those who make the bricks-and-clicks / clicks-and-mortar change successfully. Amazon (I own shares) and Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) (ditto) have made good strides recently, and I think other retailers, on cheap multiples, might make for market-beating investments.

Quote: "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked." – Warren Buffett

Fool on!

The post Another ASX company to disappear appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the vitamin and health supplement manufacturer are up 0.2% at the time of writing to $94.48.

That's just below the $95 per share takeover offer lobbed by Japan's Kirin Holdings Company yesterday. That offer values Blackmores at $1.85 billion.

Yesterday's price action, as you may recall, was markedly different.

Following the takeover announcement, released before market open, Blackmores shares rocketed higher. The stock closed up 22.8% yesterday.

What's happening with Blackmores shares?

Blackmores has officially entered into a scheme implementation deed with Kirin to acquire all of its shares.

That remains subject to the usual conditions, including approval from the Foreign Investment Board.

Blackmores' board unanimously recommended shareholders support the scheme. If all goes to plan, management expects a court-convened shareholder meeting sometime in July.

Now, you may be wondering why a company best known for its beer is looking to acquire a vitamin company.

Kirin's CEO Yoshinori Isozaki explained the benefits to his company of acquiring all of Blackmores shares.

"Blackmores presents an exciting opportunity to transform the scale and reach of our health science domain," he said.

Isozaki said Kirin has been transforming itself from a brewing business "to the business model creating value across food & beverages and pharmaceuticals domains, based on the concept of creating shared value".

Takeshi Minakata, director of Kirin's board added:

We believe Blackmores will accelerate the transformation of our health science domain as both Kirin and Blackmores share a vision to improve people's lives through our products as well as a commitment to quality, innovation and investment.

Kirin intends to maintain Blackmores' headquarters and manufacturing operations in Australia.

What is the company's largest shareholder saying?

Marcus Blackmore, the company's largest shareholder, with some 18% of Blackmores shares, is a strong proponent of the scheme.

And he's been less than pleased with the performance of the company that bears his name over the past few years.

Indeed, while last year's performance ticked up, Blackmores shares are far below their $217.98 peak, reached on 31 December 2015.

According to Blackmore (quoted by The Australian):

We've certainly made some dramatic mistakes in the last four years where our earnings per share has gone from more than $4, and then at the AGM last year the board announced a 'solid year and increased earnings per share to $1.25'.

Well, I accused the board of gilding the lily.

Blackmore said that kind of criticism had made him unwelcome at the company over the past two years.

As for why he supports the Kirin offer, he said, "I've had the opportunity of spending a lot of time with Kirin and I don't have any doubt that they would be a good custodian of the brand."

Blackmore added:

When people ask me why would I support a company like Kirin, that's a beer company, I say, well, they're trying to develop their health sciences division. They've already got the number one immunity product in Japan, they've got partial interest in other vitamin companies … so they're not blind to the whole exercise and opportunity.

How have Blackmores shares been tracking?

While still far below their 2015 peak, Blackmores shares are now up 36% over the past year, aided by the big boost delivered from the Kirin takeover bid.

The post Here's what's happening with Blackmores shares following yesterday's Kirin fuelled surge appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Leading the fall was the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ), which slumped 0.8%.

Other sectors posting notable slumps included the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ), the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ), and the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE). They fell 0.6%, 0.5%, and 0.6% respectively.

Though, it wasn't all bad. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rose 0.2%, helped by the Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) share price. The company's stock gained 4.1% amid rumours Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) could consider it a takeover target.  

But today's top-performing share doesn't belong to any of the sectors mentioned thus far. Let's take a look at what drove it to lead the ASX 200 today.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Taking out today's top spot was, of course, newly crowned takeover target Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL). The stock soared 22.75% on the back of a $1.9 billion acquisition offer.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's find out why this trio of All Ords stocks is screaming higher today.

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL)

The Blackmores share price is currently $93.53, up 21.8%. Earlier in the session, the All Ords stock hit $94, 22.4% higher than yesterday's closing price.

The health supplements manufacturer is flying high today on news of a $1.9 billion takeover bid.

As my Fool colleague Bernd reports, Blackmores has entered into a scheme implementation deed with Kirin Holdings Company.

Kirin wants to acquire 100% of Blackmores shares for $95 per share, less a fully franked special dividend of $3.34 that the board has announced it will pay if the takeover proceeds.

The Blackmores board has unanimously recommended the scheme, subject to standard conditions.

CEO Alastair Symington said:

Today is an important day in the history of Blackmores … Importantly it also confirms the significant opportunity that lies ahead for our employees and other key stakeholders of Blackmores as both companies come together to combine their focus on growing Kirin's health science business across the world.

Symbio Holdings Ltd (ASX: SYM)

The Symbio share price is currently $1.90, up 13.4%. Earlier in the session, the All Ords stock hit $1.95, 16% higher than yesterday's close.

The ASX tech share is on the rise after the voice communications software provider lodged a Q3 FY23 trading update with the ASX and confirmed its full-year FY23 guidance.

The company expects FY23 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the range of $26 million to $28 million.

Symbio said stabilised market conditions are driving organic growth and cost-cutting initiatives are expected to create a lower cost run-rate in FY24.

Symbio's expansion into Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan has led to a 170% bump in the company's total addressable market (TAM). The company now estimates its TAM to be 100 million people by 2024.

Co-founder and CEO Rene Sugo said:

We continue to see demand improving from our customers both domestically and globally. The
business has also been focussed on execution of key projects around automation, system
optimisation and improving customer experience through self-service portals and APIs.

Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) 

The Kogan share price is currently $4.30, up 11.4%. Earlier in the session, the All Ords stock reached $4.32, 11.9% higher than yesterday's closing price.

The ASX retail share appears to be riding high on the back of yesterday's Q3 FY23 business update. Kogan shares closed the session yesterday up 7.2%.

As my Fool colleague Monica reports, investors appear to be pleased with the Q3 numbers and supportive of plans for a buyback of up to 10% of stock, commencing in May.

The company reported three consecutive months of positive EBITDA and ended the quarter with $49.1 million in net cash.

CEO and founder Rusian Kogan said:

The journey to get here has been one of the toughest in our 17 year history, but also one of our most rewarding. It goes without saying – we are a far stronger company today than ever.

The post 3 All Ords stocks rocketing over 10% on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are charging higher:

Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE)

The Allkem share price is up 4% to $11.77. This appears to have been driven by speculation that the lithium miner could be a takeover target. A source told The Australian that Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) "could make a play" for Allkem. Now could be a good time for Rio Tinto to pounce, according to the source, given the lower lithium prices.

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL)

The Blackmores share price is up 22% to $93.61. This follows news that the health supplements company has accepted a takeover offer from Japan's Kirin. The two parties have entered into a scheme implementation deed that will see Kirin acquire 100% of Blackmores' issued share capital for $95 per share. This is less any special dividend declared prior to its implementation.

Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO)

The Helloworld share price is up 9% to $2.93. Investors have been buying this travel booking company's shares following the release of a trading update. Helloworld revealed that on a continuing operations basis, its underlying EBITDA for the third quarter was $14.2 million. This is up from an underlying EBITDA loss of $4.9 million in the prior corresponding period.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is up 3% to 45.2 cents. This follows the release of the gold miner's quarterly update. That update revealed that St Barbara delivered its sixth successive quarter of production growth and a reduction in its all-in sustaining cost.

The post Why Allkem, Blackmores, Helloworld, and St Barbara shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) vitamin and health supplement manufacturer closed yesterday trading for $76.79. Shares are currently swapping hands for $93.80 apiece.

This comes amid news of a $1.9 billion takeover bid.

What's all this about a takeover offer?

The Blackmores share price is heading for the sky after the company reported it has entered into a scheme implementation deed with Kirin Holdings Company.

The scheme would see Kirin acquire 100% of Blackmores' issued share capital for $95 per share, less any special dividend declared prior to its implementation.

That's 24% higher than the Blackmores share price closed at yesterday, giving you some idea why shares are leaping higher today.

With 19.45 million shares outstanding, the deal values Blackmores at $1.85 billion.

Should the takeover proceed, the Blackmores board said it will declare a fully franked special dividend of $3.34 per share, subject to availability of franking credits. Management expects shareholders will benefit from franking credits of $1.43 per share attached to that special dividend.

The Blackmores board also unanimously recommended the scheme, subject to certain standard conditions.

Marcus Blackmore is Blackmores' largest shareholder, with some 18% of the company's shares. He has agreed to vote in favour of the scheme unless otherwise directed by Kirin.

"The Kirin scheme represents an attractive, all-cash transaction," Blackmores chair, Wendy Stops, said.

Stops added, "The Blackmores board believes the agreed scheme consideration represents appropriate long-term value for the company and an attractive outcome for Blackmores shareholders."

Commenting on the takeover proposal sending the Blackmores share price soaring today, CEO Alastair Symington said:

Today is an important day in the history of Blackmores… Importantly it also confirms the significant opportunity that lies ahead for our employees and other key stakeholders of Blackmores as both companies come together to combine their focus on growing Kirin's health science business across the world.

Symington added that the two companies will together have a larger platform "to further leverage the Blackmores brand, accelerate penetration into high growth Asian markets, and expand its presence into new geographies".

Blackmores shareholders don't need to take any action yet at this time.

Management expects a court-convened shareholder meeting to be held in July 2023.

Blackmores share price snapshot

As you can see in the chart below, the Blackmores share price was already a solid performer over the past year before today's big boost.

With that intraday lift factored in, Blackmores shares are now up 33% over the past 12 months.

The post Blackmores share price rockets 22% on $1.9 billion takeover bid appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Its gains came as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) put a pause on rate hikes this afternoon, leaving the cash rate at 3.6%. It comes after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released softer-then-expected inflation data last week.

Leading the market on Tuesday was the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ). It rose 1.3% after oil prices rocketed once again following the OPEC+'s shock production cut.

Brent crude oil and US Nymex crude both jumped 6.3% overnight to reach US$84.93 a barrel and US$80.42 a barrel respectively.

The rate-sensitive S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) also outperformed today, rising 1.2%.

But not all was joyous. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) weighed on the market, falling 0.9% after iron ore futures slumped 3.8% to US$122.19 a tonne.

So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at today's top-performing ASX 200 share.

Top 10 ASX 200 share countdown

Shares in coal favourite Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) posted the ASX 200's biggest gain on Tuesday.

The stock rose 5.7% to close at $7.28 despite no news having been released by the energy giant.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Tuesday following a solid start to the week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 26 points or 0.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.8% and the S&P 500 is up 0.4%, but the NASDAQ is down 0.3%.

Oil prices jump

Energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) could have a great day after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.2% to US$72.89 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 4.1% to US$78.12 a barrel. Traders were buying oil amid a Kurdistan export halt and banking optimism.

Origin agrees takeover deal

The Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) share price will be on watch on Tuesday after the energy company accepted a takeover offer from a consortium comprising Brookfield Asset Management and MidOcean Energy. Origin has agreed to a revised deal of $5.78 per share and US$2.19 per share, which implies a total consideration of $8.912 per share. Elsewhere, United Malt Group Ltd (ASX: UMG) could return from a trading halt today with a takeover update of its own.

Gold price falls

It could be a poor day for gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 1.3% to US$1,958.1 an ounce. Improving risk sentiment appears to have softened demand for the safe haven asset.

Dividend payday

A number of popular ASX 200 dividend shares will be rewarding their shareholders with their latest dividend payments on Tuesday. This includes health supplements company Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL), steel producer BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BKL), and conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). The latter is paying a fully franked 88 cents per share interim dividend.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Once a company declares its dividend, it names a date in which its shares will trade ex-dividend.

This is essentially when the rights to the dividend payment have been finalised. If you buy its shares on the ex-dividend date, you're too late to the party and the seller will be the one that receives the dividend even though you may be holding the shares on the dividend payment date.

In light of this, a share will more often than not fall in line with the amount of its dividend to reflect this.

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today are trading lower for this reason. Listed below are six such examples:

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL)

The Blackmores share price is down 1.5% after trading ex-dividend for the company's 87 cents per share fully franked interim dividend. This will be paid to eligible shareholders on 28 March.

Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is dropped almost 1% to $13.19. It will be paying eligible shareholders a partially franked 17.7 cents per share interim dividend on 13 April.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa share price is down 1.5% this afternoon. Its shares have gone ex-dividend for its partially franked 5 cents per share interim dividend. This will be paid to shareholders on 6 April.

Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)

The Smartgroup share price has sunk almost 7% after trading ex-dividend for the company's 29 cents per share fully franked final dividend. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this dividend on 23 March.

Super Retail Limited (ASX: SUL)

The Super Retail share price is down almost 4%. This retailer will be paying its fully franked 34 cents per share interim dividend on 14 April.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price has tumbled 7.5% after going ex-dividend for the energy giant's massive 211.3 cents per share fully franked final dividend. It will be paid to eligible shareholders in just under a month on 5 April.

The post 6 ASX 200 shares trading ex-dividend today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Income investors, take note. Some of these ASX 200 shares will pay boosted dividends because of higher commodity prices. Others are raising their dividends due to improvements in their businesses.

Either way, dividends have always been a great source of passive income. But they're even more important in today's economy, with interest rates rising. One Wall Street veteran says total returns on stock markets around the world are 'going to come much more from dividends' over the near term.

All of these companies below delivered a 25%-or-more boost to their interim dividends for FY23.

Is this the biggest booster among the ASX 200 shares?

It was always going to be hard for any ASX 200 share to beat the inevitable mammoth dividend increase delivered by Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

And Australia's biggest pure-play coal miner did not disappoint, lavishing a 300% boost to its interim dividend on investors thanks to a record half-year net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.8 billion.

The ASX 200 mining share will pay 32 cents per share fully franked on 10 March.

The record profit was due to skyrocketing coal prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ensuing global energy crisis.

This also led to the Whitehaven share price screaming 261% higher in 2022, making it the best-performing share of the year.

Other companies splashing the cash

ASX financial share Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) will pay an 87% higher interim dividend in FY23 due to an 87% boost to its profit in 1H FY23. Hub24 shares will pay 14 cents per share fully franked on 18 April.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) revealed its full-year results this earnings season. QBE declared a fully franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, up 57% on the final dividend for FY21. The QBE dividend will be paid on 14 April.

IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) reported a 62% NPAT boost in 1H FY23. The ASX 200 education provider announced a 55% increase in its interim dividend to 21 cents per share. The 25%-franked dividend will be paid on 31 March.

The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) dividend was doubled this earnings season. The ASX energy share will pay investors a fully franked interim dividend of 2 cents per share on 31 March.

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL) reported a 17.3% NPAT bump to $24.4 million in 1H FY23, which resulted in a 38% increase to its dividend. The ASX 200 vitamin supplements company will pay 87 cents per share fully franked on 28 March.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) delivered its full-year results this earnings season. The company reported an underlying NPAT of US$5.23 billion, up 223% and a record for the ASX energy share.

Woodside boosted its final dividend by 37% to US$1.44 per share fully franked, payable on 5 April.

Finally, Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) reported record first-half sales of $1.96 billion, up 15% year over year.

The ASX 200 retail share will pay a fully franked interim dividend of 34 cents per share, up 26%, on 14 April.

The post Passive income watch: Here are the ASX 200 shares that delivered some of the biggest dividend boosts this earnings season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite a 17% profit boost and a 38% higher dividend, investors appear to be displeased with the report.

The Blackmores share price opened at $83.50, down 1.4% on yesterday's close. The stock fell quickly to an intraday low of $77.05, down 9%. The shares are currently changing hands for $79.94, down 5.7%.

Let's take a look at what the company reported.

Blackmores share price dives 9% despite profit boost

Blackmores said the company had achieved a "solid first half result compared to [a] very strong prior corresponding period which included COVID-19 surge primarily in the International segment".

Here are the highlights of 1H FY23 for Blackmores:

• Revenue of $338 million, down 1.6% on the prior corresponding period (pcp) of 1H FY22
• Underlying gross margin declined from 53.9% to 53.3%, largely due to the impact of inflation
• Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $24.4 million, up 17.3%
• Net sales down 1.6% and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) down 5.5%. If the impact of COVID-19 in 1H FY22 is excluded, net sales are up 3% and EBIT is up 28.4%
• Underlying earnings per share (EPS) up 17% pcp to 125.4 cents
• Fully franked interim dividend of 87 cents per share, up 38% pcp and payable on 28 March

Blackmores dividend up 38%

The company said its balance sheet remains strong and this has enabled it to increase its payout ratio.

It has increased the payout range from 30% to 60% of statutory NPAT to 40% to 70%.

Statutory NPAT during 1H FY23 was $24.3 million, up 19.6% pcp.

What did management say?

CEO Alastair Symington said:

Blackmores delivered a solid result with continued revenue and earnings growth momentum in its Australia/New Zealand and China segments offset by its International segment which lapped a very strong prior corresponding period (pcp) that primarily included COVID-19 demand surge for immunity products.

Our teams have continued their disciplined focus on execution with improved customer service levels
and continued new product and brand innovation which drove market share and distribution gains across our core geographies.

What's next?

Symington said the near-term remained "somewhat uncertain" due to the impact of rising inflation and interest rates on consumer spending.

He said:

… we remain focused on executing our strategic and commercial plans and leveraging the Group's channel and geographic diversity.

Operational expenditure reduced by 6.3% while we remain on track to achieve our target of $55 million
annualised gross cost savings by the end of FY23 with $6 million in savings delivered during the first
half.

Today we have also outlined the next phase of cost savings targeting an initial $34-44 million in further
gross cost savings over FY24 – FY26.

Blackmores share price snapshot

The Blackmores share price is up 9.75% in the year to date compared to a 5.1% bump for the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

Over the past 12 months, Blackmores shares have fallen 13.3% compared to a rise of 0.3% for the All Ords Index.

The post Blackmores share price dives despite 38% dividend boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

These analysts are looking at the share market every day, so they typically have expertise on the businesses they're following and hopefully have chosen a good time to call that business a buy.

The Australian has reported on some of the latest calls.

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL)

The broker Citi raised its target on the vitamins business to a buy. Citi's price target on the business is $84. A price target is where the broker sees the Blackmores share price trading in 12 months time.

With a price target of $84, that suggests that Blackmores doesn't have any upside from here.

The company is due to hand in its FY23 half-year result on 23 February 2023. The latest update we heard was in October 2022 when the company held its annual general meeting (AGM).

It said that it had seen a solid start to FY23, with supply chain stabilising, and service levels to customers improving to the best in the previous three years.

In Australia and New Zealand, it implemented price increases in the FY23 first quarter of between 5% to 6% to absorb cost inflation pressures. Blackmores' total market share value growth in ANZ is in line with the category.

In the international market, the ASX 200 share confirmed it's expecting revenue in the FY23 first half to be lower than the first half of FY22. It implemented price increases of 7% to 8% in the FY23 first quarter.

In the China region, Blackmores said it's seeing good momentum in premium fish oil and eye care segments, with the performance of new product launches being "encouraging". Blackmores implemented price increases across e-commerce platforms of between 6% to 8% in the FY23 first quarter.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The broker UBS has significantly raised its price target on Sims to $16. That suggests a possible rise of close to 9% over the next year.

Sims describes itself as a global leader in metal recycling and providing "circular solutions for technology, and an emerging leader in renewable energy." The business has operations in a number of places including the UK, Europe, North America, Africa and the Asia Pacific region.

The latest update from Sims was at its annual general meeting (AGM). It said that soft market conditions have persisted through the first quarter of FY23, driven by lower volumes, tighter margins and "resiliently high" inflation.

The ASX 200 share said that lower scrap volumes resulting from significantly reduced economic activity, combined with increased competition for available infeed, has tightened trading margins in both percentage and dollar per tonne terms.

Sims' underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the FY23 first half is forecast to be in the range of between $65 million to $75 million.

Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG)

The newspaper also reported that Citi has rated Johns Lyng as a buy, with a price target of $8.77. That suggests a possible rise of over 50% in the next 12 months.

This ASX 200 share is a building services business that provides building and restoration services across Australia and the US. The key role that it performs is that it rebuilds and restores properties and contents after damage from insured events such as impact, weather and fire events.

The Johns Lyng share price has dropped close to 40% since April 2022, giving it a lot of room to rebound.

While weather events are terrible for the communities it impacts, it gives the business more opportunity to provide its services. For example, at the AGM in November 2022, it said that Hurricane Ian in the US alone was an event that could cost more than US$60 billion.

The ASX 200 share has forecast that FY23 group revenue will be $1.03 billion with business as usual (BaU) work accounting for $930.4 million – a rise of 27.4% compared to FY22.

The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) forecast is $105.3 million, representing a growth of 26% compared to FY22. The BaU EBITDA forecast is $93 million, a 43.3% increase over FY22.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares just upgraded by brokers, one with 50% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Providing the biggest boost was the tech sector. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) outperformed, lifting 1.7% on Wednesday, driven by a 4.6% gain out of Block Inc (ASX: SQ2).

Weighing heaviest on the Aussie bourse, meanwhile, was the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE), falling 0.9%.

In the doldrums alongside it was the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ). The sector slumped 0.2% despite oil prices rising overnight.

The Brent crude oil price rose 1.7% to US$85.92 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude oil price gained 0.4% to US$80.18 a barrel amid better-than-expected growth data out of China.

So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at the 10 ASX 200 shares posting the index's biggest gains on Wednesday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Leading the charge today was lithium favourite Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA). Its share price roared 8.9% higher to close at 24.5 cents.

Interestingly, there was no price-sensitive news from the company today. Though, its stock did tumble 2% on Tuesday.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Friday's gain came on the back of positive inflation data out of the United States. The nation's consumer price index slipped 0.1% in December, bringing its annual inflation rate down to 6.5%. That's good news for anyone hoping interest rates will ease.

Back home, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XJO) led the way on Friday. It rose 1.5% after oil prices lifted more than 1% overnight.

S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) shares also had a good day. The sector gained 1.4%.

Though, it wasn't such a good session for S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) stocks, with the sector bringing up the rear, falling 0.4%.

So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at which ASX 200 shares posted the biggest gains on Friday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL). It lifted 6.2% to close at $81.27 despite the company's silence.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

The Beach Energy share price is down 4% to $1.52. Investors have been selling Beach and other energy shares today after oil prices sank again overnight. Traders were selling down oil amid global economic growth concerns. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 2.1% this afternoon.

Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL)

The Blackmores share price is down 1.5% to $73.38. This is despite there being no news out of the health supplements company. However, it is worth noting that Citi recently warned about the company's prospects in FY 2023. It feels that price increases and the cost of living crisis could hit demand for its offering. Citi has a sell rating and $58.85 price target on its shares.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa Group share price is down 2% to $2.74. A number of agricultural shares are under pressure on Thursday. This may have been driven by some large investors rotating out of the sector into other areas of the market.

Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT)

The Weebit Nano share price is down 1% to $3.60. This may have been driven by profit taking after some strong gains in recent sessions. Investors have been buying this semiconductor company's shares after it provided a positive update on its demo chip.

The post Why Beach, Blackmores, Costa, and Weebit Nano shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was the banks that weighed heaviest on the ASX. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) dropped 1.9% with the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price leading the downturn, falling 2.7%.

Also struggling were stocks in the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ). The sectors tumbled 1.8% and 1.7% respectively.

Interestingly, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) performed on par with the broader index despite New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) posting today's biggest fall. The coal stock plummeted 8.5% on Tuesday despite the company's silence.

It wasn't all dire, however. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) clambered its way into the green this afternoon, though it ultimately closed 0.1% lower.

But which ASX 200 share outperformed all others to post the strongest start to the new year? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing stock on the index was gold explorer De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG). It gained 5% to close today's session at $1.35.

Interestingly, there was no price-sensitive news released by the company today.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.