DIVIDENDS – AUSTRALIA

Zero rates eould smash the banks

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 8-Sep-16

A decline in the cash rate to zero would have a negative impact on returns from Australian banking stocks. Credit Suisse analysts Jarrod Martin and James Ellis have calculated that such a scenario would trigger a fall in earnings of the major banks by an average of nine per cent or $A2.7 billion in total. Consequently, the banks would have to respond to a fall in return on equity by reducing their dividend payout ratios.

CORPORATES
CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Capex takes back seat as optimism stalls

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Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 2-Sep-16

Businesses are still reluctant to increase their capital investments. Figures released on 1 September 2016 suggest that $A105.2 billion will be spent on capital investments in 2016-17 which is unchanged in non-mining terms. Investors who rely on dividends are likely to benefit from this trend as companies will return some of their capital to them as dividends.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, NICK SCALI LIMITED – ASX NCK, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP

Stellar Harvey Norman saves best for last

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 1-Sep-16

Australian-listed retailer Harvey Norman has reported a 30 per cent increase in net profit to $A348.6 million for 2015-16. EBIT rose 27 per cent to $A522.5 million. Chairman Gerry Harvey said on 31 August 2016 that the company was ‘flush with cash’ and could afford to be generous to shareholders. Harvey Norman’s final dividend was raised from $A0.11 to $A0.17 a share, payable on 1 December.

CORPORATES
HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED

Nine banks on local shows to boost ratings

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 26-Aug-16

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a 2015-16 profit of $A324.8m. This compares with a loss of $A592.2m in 2014-15, although the prior result had been marred by write-downs totalling $A732.2 million. The media group’s 2015-16 underlying profit was down 7.1 per cent at $A120.3m and revenue fell by 6.5 per cent to $A1.3bn. CEO Hugh Marks says an increase in premium local content will be a priority for the Nine Network in 2017, after a disappointing ratings performance in 2016. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.04 per share.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NIKKO ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP, WARNER BROS, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, PROCTER AND GAMBLE COMPANY, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, NINE LIVE PTY LTD

Qantas breaks dividend drought with record profit

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Original article by Michael Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 22 : 25-Aug-16

Qantas has reported a 2015-16 net profit of $A1.029bn, compared with $A557m for the previous financial year. The airline’s pre-tax underlying profit rose from $A975m to a record $A1.53bn. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.07 per share, which is the carrier’s first payout since 2009, while Qantas will repurchase up to $A366m worth of its shares. Meanwhile, employees will receive a cash bonus ranging from $A2,500 to $A3,000.

CORPORATES
QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, JETSTAR AIRLINES PTY LTD, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

Doubts on Fortescue dividends

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 24-Aug-16

Analysts are divided regarding Fortescue Metals Group’s dividends in coming years, after the pure-play iron ore miner announced a total payout of $A0.15 per share for 2015-16. Paul McTaggart of Credit Suisse expects the total dividend to rise to $A0.17 in 2016-17, before falling to $A0.05 in 2017-18 due to expectations that the iron ore price will fall. Glyn Lawcock of UBS forecasts a dividend of $A0.18 per share in 2016-17 and $A0.11 in 2017-18, while Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley anticipate a big fall in the total payout for both financial years.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, JEFFERIES AND COMPANY, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL

SEEK flags aggressive reinvestment, acquisitions

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 23-Aug-16

Australian-listed SEEK has posted a 2015-16 net profit of $A357m, which is 27 per cent higher than previously. However, this was boosted by the sale of a 50 per cent stake in IDP Education, and SEEK’s underlying profit rose by three per cent to $A198.1m. EBITDA was five per cent higher than previously at $A366.7, and group revenue increased by 11 per cent to $A950.4m. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.19 per share.

CORPORATES
SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, IDP EDUCATION LIMITED – ASX IEL, HYPERION ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, SIDEKICKER, WORKANA, NIMBLE SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, JORA, JOBADDER, ZHAOPIN LIMITED

Fortescue super-sizes dividends

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 23-Aug-16

Fortescue Metals Group has posted a 2015-16 net profit of $US985m, which is 212 per cent higher than previously. Underlying EBITDA rose by 27 per cent to $US3.2bn, although a lower spot iron ore price resulted in revenue falling by 17 per cent to $US7.1bn. Fortescue reduced its debt by $US2.9bn during the financial year. The pure-play miner has lifted its final dividend from $A0.02 per share to $A0.12, for a total payout of $A0.15 per share.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, THOMSON REUTERS PLC

Northern Star on the hunt for organic growth

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 23-Aug-16

Australian-listed Northern Star Resources has posted a 2015-16 net profit of $A151.4m, which is 65 per cent higher than previously. The company recently secured a deal to sell the Plutonic gold mine in Western Australia, and estimates that its net profit would have been $A165.3m if it had not owned the mine during 2015-16. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.04 per share, plus a special dividend of $A0.03.

CORPORATES
NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, BILLABONG GOLD PTY LTD

Domino’s still hungry for more

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 23 : 17-Aug-16

Australian-listed Domino’s Pizza Enterprises has posted a 2015-16 net profit of $A82.43m, which is 28.7 per cent higher than previously. The fast-food chain’s revenue rose by 32.43 per cent to $A930.22m, while its underlying profit increased by 43.2 per cent to $A92m. CEO Don Meij notes that Domino’s is increasing its market share in categories beyond its core pizza business, such as hamburgers. Investors will receive a full-year dividend of $A0.735 per share.

CORPORATES
DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, PIZZA SPRINT, JOEY’S PIZZA, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, OPHIR ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD