In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

Here at The Fool, our analysts do not recommend buying ASX shares simply just to get the next dividend payment.

Our market experts say the decision to buy should be more thoughtful than that, and based on fundamental analysis.

But if you already intend to buy any of these ASX shares, you might like to consider the best timing for you.

For example, you could buy before the ex-dividend date and receive entitlement to the next dividend payment.

Or you might prefer to wait until the ex-dividend date itself, when the share price usually falls, to snap up your stock.

Here are some ex-dividend dates next week

The post 20 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Among the payers this week were BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which paid a fully franked dividend of 91.9 cents per share yesterday.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) also paid out a fully franked final dividend of 9.5 cents per share yesterday.

Some companies that reported their financial results late in the August earnings season are yet to go ex-dividend.

That means you still have time to strategise how to make their ex-div dates work for you.

Make the ex-dividend date work for you!

Ex-dividend dates provide two opportunities for investors.

After a company announces its next dividend, investors have a small window of opportunity to buy the ASX share with the payment attached.

If you do this, you can generate a quick return via short-term income.

Alternatively, you might like to wait until the ex-dividend date to buy, because the price will likely fall, creating a buy-the-dip opportunity.

Share prices typically fall on ex-dividend dates because the stocks are fundamentally less valuable without the next dividend attached.

As usual, there have been many examples of ASX shares falling on their ex-dividend dates this year.

On Monday, New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares fell 7.35% after the coal mining stock went ex-dividend.

Next week, a slew of real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other ASX shares will go ex-dividend.

19 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

Here is a sample of the ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

The post 19 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX REITS are known for providing share price stability or growth, along with healthy distributions, which is the term funds use instead of dividends.

Newly-released data from the ASX quantifies the returns of the ASX REITs over the past three financial years.

Let's take a look at the figures to identify the best performer.

The top 10 ASX REITS over FY21-FY23

For the purposes of this article, we're going to focus on the 42 ASX REITs that invest in Australian property. We're excluding the index-based REITs and those invested in global property.

According to the data, here are the top 10 ASX REITS:

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC) returned an average of 30.41% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged a yield of 2.37%.

Blackwall Ltd (ASX: BWF) returned an average of 27.88% per annum, including reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 9.07%.

The Aspen Group Limited (ASX: APZ) returned an average of 26.16% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 4.43%.

The Arena REIT (ASX: ARF) returned an average of 24.99% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 4.47%.

Garda Diversified Property Fund (ASX: GDF) returned an average of 15.17% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 5.54%.

Vicinity Centres (ASX: VCX) returned an average of 14.2% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 6.21%.

The Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (ASX: CQE) returned an average of 13.73% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 5.85%.

Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) returned an average of 13.64% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 6.5%.

The National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR) returned an average of 13.35% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 4.68%.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) returned an average of 12.22% per annum. This includes reinvested dividends which have historically averaged 1.49%.

More about HMC Capital

So, HMC Capital is the top returning REIT over the past three years.

HMC is a property developer, owner, and manager. The company is involved in investment funds management and corporate properties — primarily retail and services centres.

Here is a chart documenting the recent performance of this ASX REIT.

Interested in the age-old debate? Check out our article on property or shares making the best investment.

The post Which ASX REITs delivered the best returns over the past 3 years? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Most investors are familiar with the primary way that an ASX share can return capital to its investors: by paying out dividends. But share buybacks can be just as lucrative as a dividend, and could even be preferable in some circumstances.

Even the legendary investor Warren Buffett has frequently discussed his love of share buybacks and why he favours a buyback over paying out a dividend at his company Berkshire Hathaway.

How does a share buyback work?

A share buyback is, well, all in the name. A company buys back its own shares on the open market, just as any other investor would. However, instead of holding the shares over time, as you or I might, the company retires or destroys them.

This has several consequences. Firstly, by reducing the supply of available shares, a share buyback puts upward pressure on the company's share price. That's because, under the laws of supply and demand, reduced supply leads to higher prices. So that's one win for shareholders.

Fewer shares also mean that all remaining shareholders see their actual ownership of the company rise. Say I own 10 shares of Company X, and Company X has a total of 100 shares outstanding. As such, I would own 10% of the company.

But if Company X buys back 10 shares from the open market, and retires them, there are now only 90 shares outstanding. I still own my 10 shares, but instead of a 10 % ownership, I now own 11.11%. That entitles me to more of the company's earnings and dividends as a result. And, unlike a dividend, this all happens without me having to pay any tax.

If a company makes a habit of buying back its own stock, it can have a huge impact on shareholder returns over time.

Which ASX stocks have been buying back their own shares in 2023?

So let's talk about which ASX shares have been buying back their own stock in 2023 so far.

Luckily for us, we don't have to sift through ASX notices to find out. The data has been compiled for us by S&P Market Intelligence. So here is a list of some of the ASX shares that have conducted share buybacks in 2023 to date:

• Amcor plc (ASX: AMC)
• Cochlear Limtied (ASX: COH)
• Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN)
• Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI)
• Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)
• AMP Limited (ASX: AMP)
• Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)
• Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)
• Helia Group Ltd (ASX: HLI)
• Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)
• Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd (ASX: DJW)
• Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE)
• Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)
• OFX Group Ltd (ASX: OFX)
• Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (ASX: MYX)
• AMCIL Limited (ASX: AMH)
• Garda Diversified Property Fund (ASX: GDF)
• US Masters Residential Property Fund (ASX: URF)
• Cogstate Limited (ASX: CGS)

Many of these shares, including Qantas, Cochlear, Eagers Automotive, and Kogan, have had exceptionally strong share price growth this year so far. And from what we know about buybacks, there's little doubt that these were at least partially assisted by the companies' actions in buying back their own stock.

The post Returning capital: These ASX companies have been buying back their shares in 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ex-dividend date is essential for investors focused on passive income. Its date is when investors will no longer be entitled to the dividend of an ASX share. For example, if the ex-dividend date is 30 June 2023, then 29 June 2023 is the last date people can gain entitlement to the upcoming dividend.

Investors that already own shares don't need to do anything. They receive entitlement to the dividend simply by holding the shares.

From here, the dividend payment comes next, though there's no set timeframe for when the cash will be sent to investors.

So, let's look at which businesses plan to pay dividends soon.

Which ASX All Ord shares make the list?

Garda Diversified Property Fund (ASX: GDF)

Garda is a real estate investor, developer and manager of investments along the eastern seaboard of Australia from Cairns to Melbourne.

Importantly for those seeking a regular income, Garda pays a quarterly distribution to its investors. The next scheduled distribution payment will be 1.8 cents per security, with an ex-distribution date of 29 June 2023. This means investors have until 28 June 2023 to be a holder of the units.

The payment date is 17 July 2023.

Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW)

This is a real estate investment trust (REIT), as the name suggests, which owns healthcare and 'wellness' properties that are exposed to the healthcare tailwinds.

The distribution to be paid from the ASX All Ords share is a 2 cents per security payment, with an ex-distribution date of 29 June 2023. That means that investors have to own units by 28 June 2023.

The payment date for the distribution is 30 August 2023.

Hotel Property Investments Ltd (ASX: HPI)

As the name might suggest, it owns an extensive portfolio of freehold pubs and associated tenancies.

The business pays a distribution every six months to investors, and the next one will be a payment of 9.4 cents per security. The ex-distribution date for this one is 29 June 2023, so investors have until 28 June 2023 to grab units.

The payment date for this one is 1 September 2023.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

This agricultural REIT owns various farmland properties and leases to quality tenants, including cattle, almonds, macadamias, vineyards and cropping.

The ASX All Ords share pays a quarterly distribution, the next being a payment of 2.93 cents per security. Furthermore, the ex-distribution date for this ASX All Ords share is 29 June 2023. As such, investors only have until 28 June 2023 to invest and qualify.

The payment date is 31 July 2023.

The post Last chance to snag the next dividend on these 4 ASX All Ords shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Anyone buying a company's stock after its ex-dividend date will miss out on its next payment. So, investors wanting a piece of these dividends better get in quick.

It's also worth bearing in mind that on their ex-dividend trading day, ASX shares typically fall approximately equal to the value of their next dividend.

8 ASX All Ords shares trading ex-dividend this week

First off the bat will be Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL). The ASX All Ords pathology services provider will pass its ex-dividend date today.

That means new shareholders have already missed out on its 7-cent per share dividend. It will be paid on 26 April.

And that might not be all weighing on the stock. The company's takeover target Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) has responded to its all-scrip offer, noting the bid likely won't meet the required acceptance.

Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP) will be the next All Ords share to trade ex-dividend this week. Shares in the property developer will surpass the milestone on Tuesday.

Investors will see a 13-cent per share dividend paid on 28 April.

Shares in mining equipment provider Emeco Holdings Ltd (ASX: EHL) will trade ex-dividend on Wednesday.

Those holding shares in the All Ords company will receive a 1.25-cent per share dividend from 13 April.

Come Thursday, all eyes will be on agriculture-focused real estate property trust Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and property investor Garda Diversified Property Fund (ASX: GDF). The pair will trade ex-dividend on Thursday.

After that, Garda will pay a 1.8-cent per share dividend on 19 April, while Rural Funds will hand out a 2.9-cent per share offering on 19 April.

Industrial- and office-focused real estate investment trusts (REITs) Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) and Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF) will also trade ex-dividend on Thursday.

They'll pay out their respective 4-cent per share and 3.5-cent per share offerings on 28 April.

And finally, All Ords share Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) will also trade ex-dividend this week, passing the milestone on Friday.

The furniture retailer will pay a 13-cent per share dividend on 1 May.

The post 8 ASX All Ords shares trading ex-dividend this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX share market has gone through much volatility this year. Inflation is currently relatively high, which is impacting market thoughts on where interest rates are headed.

This volatility has sent the valuation of some businesses down, which has pushed up the dividend yield of some ASX dividend shares, like these two:

Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX)

Most readers may know Beacon for its lighting retail stores. It also services trade customers. Beacon Lighting has an e-commerce offering for customers and it has a growing international division.

It's currently rated as a buy by the broker Citi with a price target of $3. That implies a potential rise of around 50%. However, it acknowledged that a rise in interest rates and a slowdown in household spending could hurt sales. Despite that, Citi believes that Beacon has long-term growth potential.

According to Citi, Beacon has a projected grossed-up dividend yield of 6% in FY23.

Beacon Lighting's profit margins continue to climb. In the recent FY22 half-year result, the gross profit margin increased from 68.5% to 70% and the net profit after tax (NPAT) margin increased from 14.6% to 14.9%. Online sales jumped 41% to $20.3 million, with online sales representing 15.4% of total retail sales.

The ASX dividend share continues to open new stores. It currently has around 120. Further, it has identified the potential for 184 stores around Australia.

Internationally, the company recently launched its American website in a bid to build Beacon Lighting's market presence in the USA. International sales rose by 65% to $8.1 million. It has also established a new online ceiling fan sales channel in China with Tmall Global.

Garda Diversified Property Fund (ASX: GDF)

This business owns 17 properties. It describes itself as a real estate investor, developer, and manager with investments along the eastern seaboard of Australia, from Cairns to Melbourne. In April 2022, its investments were worth around $603 million, split almost equally between industrial properties and commercial office properties.

It's currently rated as a buy by the broker Morgans with a price target of $1.83. This implies a possible upside of around 20%.

Last month, the company updated the market with its latest valuation and net tangible assets (NTA) numbers. The business saw a $22.5 million valuation uplift, helping the NTA rise by 14 cents per security to $1.86. That means the current Garda Diversified Property Fund share price is at an 18% discount to the NTA.

Morgans thinks that the ASX dividend share is going to pay a distribution of 7.4 cents per security in FY23. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 4.8%.

Garda boasts that its active management, combined with "strong market fundamentals", continues to deliver value for investors.

Looking at a few portfolio metrics, its portfolio occupancy rate in the FY22 half-year result was 94%, with 3.2% fixed annual rent increases. The weighted average lease expiry was 5.6 years.

The post 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares for income in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Garda share price is up 1.35% to $1.13 per share at the time of writing.

Garda is a property group headquartered in Brisbane that invests in, owns, manages and develops commercial and industrial real estate. 

What Garda's update said

The Garda share price is responding positively to news that it sold 3 assets, all above book value, for a total of $30.6 million.

It provided 2 construction updates on tenant-committed properties in Brisbane, one in Wacol that is due for completion in May and another in Acacia Ridge that has just commenced construction.

Its property group at Berrinba is now 100% committed, while further leasing at property Botanicca 9 has increased the gross avenue of the Botannica property to 47%. Approximately two-thirds of Garda's portfolio is now to be independently valued.

Across its property portfolio, Garda's occupancy rates are now 89%.

Garda has benefited immensely from the nationwide property price boom due in part to record-low interest rates. It's selling a further 3 high-value properties and has now set its prices unconditionally.

Its Archerfield property is now unconditional for $7.0 million, representing a 12.9% premium to its independent valuation. It is due to settle in mid-April. 

Lytton is under contract for $11.0 million, representing a 26.1% premium to its independent valuation and is subject to Garda completing certain works. Lytton is expected to settle at the end of May.

Finally, Varsity Lakes is now also unconditional for $12.6 million, representing a 5% premium to its independent valuation. Settlement is expected to occur not later than 11 May 2021.

Where Garda's boom prices will be reinvested

Investors looking for increases in Garda share price will be hoping that the company reinvests its current earnings in an enhanced construction pipeline.

Garda admitted that it would direct most of the current cash flow towards decreasing debt. However, it has its eyes on ultimate industrial development.

The company says eventually, some funding will be directed to completing the pre-mentioned property assets at Wacol and Acacia Ridge.

Garda share price snapshot

The Garda share price rose from 89 cents to $1.27 between April and November 2020 and has remained within a five-cent window for most of 2021. It's down in 2021 by 8.8% so far. 

It's managed a 12-month return of 32%, which has beaten the real estate sector by 1% but lost to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by 1.66%. 

The post How the property boom is affecting the Garda (ASX:GDF) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.