These ASX 200 stocks trade ex-dividend today

Highlights:

• Here are three ASX 200 stocks that trade ex-dividend today.
• Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM) is scheduled to pay an interim dividend of 35.0 US cents per share fully franked (including 15.0 US cents interim and 20.0 US cents special) on 30 March 2023. 
• Bluescope Steel Limited's (ASX:BSL) interim dividend of 25.0 cps is payable on 28 March 2023.   

Many ASX 200 companies like Brambles, Ardent Leisure, Allkem, Mineral Resources, Block, Link Administration reported their earnings today to wrap up a big week of corporate earnings. The good part of the earning season is the dividend declared by the companies as it provides comfort to investors, especially in an inflationary environment.

Let us discuss three ASX 200 stocks that trade ex-dividend today.

For the uninitiated, ex-dividend date is when a particular stock trades without the value of its upcoming dividend. If someone buys a stock on ex-dividend date, he won't be eligible for the company's forthcoming dividend.

Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX:TAH) 

Annual dividend yield: 7.87% on 24 February 2023

The gambling entertainment company operates through two business units: Wagering and Media and Gaming Services. 

For the first half that ended 31 December 2022, it reported a 10.8% increase in revenue to AU$1,274.5 million and an 18.2% increase in the EBITDA to AU$201.6 million. 

The company generated net profit after tax (NPAT) of AU$51.7 million compared to the loss after tax of AU$24.2 million in H1FY22 and then declared an interim dividend of 1.3 cents per share (cps) for H1FY23. This dividend per share is 80% less than the previous corresponding half's dividend of 6.5 cents per share. 

The dividend payout ratio was 61% of the net profit after tax (before significant items and equity accounted for loss).

The company incurred a loss in pandemic-affected FY20 but recovered quickly the next year. In FY21, it booked an NPAT of AU$269 million and declared a 14.5 cps dividend; for FY22, the dividend was 13 cps.

Recently, on 01 February 2023, it completed the sale of its eBet business to Venue Digital Technology Pty Ltd for AU$62.0 million gross proceeds. 

The stock is trading ex-dividend today at AU$0.982, down 0.76% over Thursday’s closing price as of 11:40 am AEDT. The payment date for this dividend is scheduled on 21 March 2023. 

Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM)

Annual dividend yield: 3.43% on 24 February 2023

The mining company explores and develops mines and sells gold and copper concentrate. 

NCM shares trade ex-dividend today. The dividend amount is 35.0 US cents per share fully franked (including 15.0 US cents interim and 20.0 US cents special), payable on 30 March 2023. 

It recently released its half-yearly results on 16 February 2023. The company's revenue rose 24% in the first half of FY23 to US$2,121 million. Still, net profit after tax (NPAT) came 2% lower compared to the previous year's first half at AU$293 million due to increased operating expenses. Gold contributed 77% of total net sales revenue while increasing 28% YoY.  

It targets a dividend payout of 30% to 60% of free cash flow and the total dividend to be a minimum of 15 US cents per share on full year basis. 

BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX:BSL)

Annual dividend yield: 2.68% on 24 February 2023

The steel production company provides steel materials, products, systems, and technologies. 

For the six months ending 31 December 2022, the company reported a sales revenue of AU$9,323 million, 1% lower than the previous corresponding half year. This was mainly due to lower steel prices during the period.

The company's underlying net profit after tax fell 61% compared to the first half of FY22. The reported NPAT declined 64% from the previous year to AU$598.9 million. 

As of 31 December 2022, the company had AU$606.1 million in net cash. It declared 25.0 cents per share of interim fully franked dividend for H1FY23. 

For H2FY23, the company expects underlying EBIT to be between AU$480 million and AU$550 million. This lower expectation than the first half was due to a softer spread in Asia and the Midwest. 

The stock's ex-dividend date is Friday, 24 February, for an amount of 25.0 cps, payable on 28 March 2023.