The ASX earnings season wrapped up yesterday. The market saw firms from different sectors announce
their financial results, which included the declaration on dividends. While a few firms
slashed their dividends, some others raised their distribution. With the earnings season finally
over, investors would now closely analyse the dividend reports of the ASX-listed firms and plan
their future strategies. Investors generally lap up stocks with healthy dividend payout history.
Here we discuss three ASX stocks which have given
the highest dividend payout rise this earnings season.
BHP Group (ASX:BHP)
BHP Group operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe,
China, Japan, India, South Korea, rest of Asia, North America, South America, and
internationally. It operates through Petroleum, Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal
segments. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. BHP Group
declared a record dividend, buoyed by higher iron ore prices and near record production
in the first half of the financial year 2022. The diversified mining firm announced an interim
dividend of US$1.50 per share, up from US$1.01 a share declared a year ago, which is a 48%
rise. BHP is trading at AU$47.14, BHP shares offer an attractive dividend yield of 10.48%.
Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO)
Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide.
The company offers aluminum, copper, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide,
salt, iron ore, and uranium. It also owns and operates open pit and underground mines,
mills, refineries, smelters, power stations, and research and service facilities. Rio Tinto
Group was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Buoyed by its
biggest profit in 150 years, Rio Tinto announced the highest ever dividend
to its shareholders in its half-yearly report for the financial year 2022. Rio’s board declared a
record final dividend of US$4.17 a share that will be distributed to investors in April. The global
iron ore giant’s board declared a US$16.8 billion full-year dividend, equivalent to
US$10.40 per share and 79% of underlying earnings. Rio Tinto is trading at AU$118.23,
Rio shares offer an attractive dividend yield of 9.19%.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides integrated financial services in Australia,
New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking Services, Business Banking,
Institutional Banking and Markets, and New Zealand segments. The company was founded in 1911 and
is based in Sydney, Australia. Commonwealth Bank of Australia hiked its dividend by 17%
to AU$1.75 a share. Last year’s interim payout stood at AU$1.50 per share. CBA also plans to
return surplus capital to its investors with an AU$2 billion on-market buyback,
on top of last year’s massive off-market AU$6 billion buyback. CBA is trading at AU$95.47,
Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares offer an attractive dividend yield of 4.01%