DIVIDENDS – AUSTRALIA

‘Acquisitions the only way’ for South32

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 4-Feb-15

BHP Billiton’s proposed South32 spin-off is slated to debut on the Australian sharemarket by mid-2015. Deutsche Bank’s Paul Young has a valuation of $US13bn ($A16.7bn) on South32, and cautions that the group will have to pursue acquisitions as its scope for organic growth will be limited. He expects South32 to shun BHP’s progressive dividends policy in favour of a payout ratio of 30-40 per cent

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SOUTH32 LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, SOUTH AFRICA COAL

Argo tips strong year for yield stocks given global volatility

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 3-Feb-15

Argo Investments has reported a 2014-15 interim profit of $A104.8m, which is three per cent higher than previously. The group achieved a return of 4.5 per cent for the half-year, while it will pay an interim dividend of $A0.14 per share. CEO Jason Beddow expects Australian investors to focus on stocks that offer solid yields in 2015, citing factors such as low interest rates and a high level of market volatility

CORPORATES
ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, APA GROUP – ASX APA, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, ASALEO CARE LIMITED – ASX AHY, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, MILTON CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX MLT, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Rio Tinto primed for $5b buyback

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 5-Jan-15

Credit Suisse’s Paul McTaggart suggests that Rio Tinto may pursue an on-market share buyback worth up to $US4bn ($A5bn). He says the resources group could potentially reveal plans for a buyback in February 2015, while Glyn Lawcock of UBS believes that any such buyback will be worth between $US2bn and $US3bn. Both mining analysts also expect Rio Tinto to increase its underlying dividend. The dividend payout ratio was 35 per cent in calendar 2013

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, GLENCORE PLC, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE

Epic $70b dividend haul

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Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 27 : 4-Sep-14

Credit Suisse estimates that companies in the S&P/ASX 200 announced $A67.8bn worth of dividends in 2013-14, compared with $A61.3bn in the previous financial year. Hasan Tevfik of Credit Suisse notes that some companies are allowing shareholders to receive shares via dividend reinvestment plans rather than be paid in cash. He adds that capital expenditure is also being adversely affected by increased dividend payouts

CORPORATES
CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

Perpetual returns to global equities

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 29-Aug-14

Listed fund manager Perpetual has reported a 2013-14 net profit of $A81.6m, which is 34 per cent higher than previously. Funds under management increased by 18 per cent to $A29.8bn. Perpetual will make a new push into international shares following the appointment of Garry Laurence to head its Global Share Fund. Perpetual shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.95 per share

CORPORATES
PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, PERPETUAL’S GLOBAL SHARE FUND, THE TRUST COMPANY LIMITED, PM CAPITAL LIMITED, WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLP, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, PLATINUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX PTM, MAGELLAN ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TYNDALL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED

Investors cheer as Boral ‘turns corner’

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Original article by Bridget Carter
The Australian – Page: 18 : 28-Aug-14

Building materials group Boral has announced a 2013-14 full-year net profit increase of 181% to $A173m, although revenue declined 2% to reach $A5.2bn. The net result excluding abnormals was up 64% at $A171m. The 12-month distribution has been lifted 36% to $A0.15, and on 27 August 2014 the stock closed $A0.25 higher at $A5.63. CEO Mike Kane said the Australian-listed company was seeing a recovery in the housing market domestically as well as in the US

CORPORATES
BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, CSR LIMITED – ASX CSR

BC Iron signals tough times ahead for the Pilbara as ore price pushes two-year low

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Original article by Barry FitzGerald
The Australian – Page: 17 : 28-Aug-14

BC Iron has announced a 2013-14 full-year net profit increase from $A71.4m to $A72.9m. However just 15% of the earnings were generated in the second six months, demonstrating the major negative impact of the weaker iron ore price. The commodity has declined 35% to below $US90 a tonne so far in calendar 2014. BC’s 12-month distribution has also been cut by $A0.03, to $A0.32. MD Morgan Ball says the iron ore price will not fall further

CORPORATES
BC IRON LIMITED – ASX BCI, IRON ORE HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX IOH, MOUNT GIBSON IRON LIMITED – ASX MGX, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, FOSTER STOCKBROKING PTY LTD

RCG up amid ‘budget hangover’

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 20 : 27-Aug-14

RCG Corporation has announced a 2013-14 full-year net profit increase of 11.2% to $A11.8m, on revenue that also rose 3% to reach $A210m. The RCG Brands division recorded an EBITDA lift of 37% to $A6.9m, while for the overall group the figure was up 12% at $A16.8m. The final distribution is $A0.025 fully-franked. CEO Hilton Brett says the owner of the Athlete’s Foot retailing chain is still experiencing subdued consumer sentiment due to the Australian Government’s May 2014 Budget

CORPORATES
RCG CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX RCG, RCG BRANDS PTY LTD, THE ATHLETE’S FOOT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MERRELL SHOES

Almond harvest profits go nuts

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Original article by Sue Neales
The Australian – Page: 20 : 26-Aug-14

Select Harvests has posted a 2013-14 full-year net profit increase to an all-time high $A29m, as almond prices rose by a third and this compensated for a harvest that was down 17% after a poor season. The company has acquired three additional orchards and will source $A47m in fresh capital via a share issue priced at $A5.35. The final distribution is $A0.09 unfranked. MD Paul Thompson said Select Harvests was aiming to reduce its gearing to below 40%

CORPORATES
SELECT HARVESTS LIMITED – ASX SHV

Caltex to axe 350 jobs ‘to become stronger’

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Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 19 : 26-Aug-14

Caltex Australia has announced a 2014 interim net profit increase of 1% to $A173m, on revenue that also rose 11% to reach $A12.771bn. The six-month distribution is $A0.20, fully franked. CEO Julian Segal said the Australian-listed petroleum refining and service stations group would make another 350 workers redundant after 400 jobs were lost in the shutdown of the Kurnell refinery. Overall a tenth of the employees of Caltex will be laid off

CORPORATES
CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX