EasyResearch Weekly Dividends Update

Ready to take on the year with some passive income and shares from listed companies?

Most companies in the South African market pay dividends at least twice a year, while companies in the American market typically pay dividends quarterly. 📅

Main Street Capital Corp is featured in this week's update as one of the companies that pay dividends monthly, offering an opportunity for investors to stay aligned with #20TwentyThrive.

Looking ahead to 2025, here are some exciting spin-offs that will grant shareholders shares in newly listed companies:

• Comcast Corp: Featured in this week’s dividend update, Comcast announced plans to create an independent media business by spinning off select cable television networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, E!, Golf Channel, and more.

Additionally, here’s a preview of spin-offs expected later in 2025:

• Unilever: Plans to spin off its ice cream business, which includes iconic brands such as Wall’s and Magnum.
• Warner Bros. Discovery: The board has authorised a new corporate structure, making Warner Bros. the parent company of its global linear networks and streaming & studio operations.
• Topgolf Callaway Brands: Intends to spin off Topgolf, a leading golf equipment business.
• Fortive: Plans to spin off its Precision Technologies segment.
• DuPont: Announced plans to separate into three listed companies - Electronics, Water, and a diversified industrial entity called "New DuPont".
• Honeywell: Intends to spin off its Advanced Materials business by late 2025 or early 2026.

Forbes notes that conglomerates often use spin-offs to unlock value by shedding slower-growth units, enhancing focus, driving growth, and increasing shareholder returns. Thinking of investing in these before their finalization announcements? 👀💭

Once listed, spun-off shares are expected to be available for trading or holding on EasyEquities. These shares will be distributed to parent company shareholders at a predetermined ratio and date.

Here’s the latest dividend update for this week:

European 

ING Groep N.V. will be paying €0.16 per share.

• Last trading date - 07 January 2025
• Payment date - 16 January 2025

American

Cricut Inc will be paying $0.10 per share.

• Last trading date - 06 January 2025
• Payment date - 21 January 2025

Main Street Capital Corporation will be paying $0.25 per share.

• Last trading date - 07 January 2025
• Payment date - 15 January 2025

Comcast Corp will be paying $0.31 per share.

• Last trading date - 07 January 2025
• Payment date - 29 January 2025

Oracle Corporation will be paying $0.40 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 23 January 2025

Mastercard Incorporated will be paying $0.76 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 07 February 2025

Marvell Technology Inc will be paying $0.06 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 30 January 2025

General Mills Inc will be paying $0.60 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 03 February 2025

AT&T Inc will be paying $0.27 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 03 February 2025

New York Times Company (The) will be paying $0.13 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 23 January 2025

Verizon Communications Inc will be paying $0.67 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 03 February 2025

Intuit Inc will be paying $1.04 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 January 2025
• Payment date - 17 January 2025

GE HealthCare Technologies Inc will be paying $0.03 per share.

• Last trading date - 13 January 2025
• Payment date - 14 February 2025

Freeport-McMoRan Inc will be paying $0.15 (0.075 Ordinary and $0.075 Variable) per share.

• Last trading date - 14 January 2025
• Payment date - 03 February 2025

South African

Sappi Limited will be paying R2.46 per share. 

• Last trading date – 07 January 2025
• Payment date – 13 January 2025

Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited will be paying R0.22 per share. 

• Last trading date – 07 January 2025
• Payment date – 13 January 2025

Mahube Infrastructure Limited will be paying R0.20 per share. 

• Last trading date – 07 January 2025
• Payment date – 13 January 2025

Marshall Monteagle PLC will be paying R0.35 per share. 

• Last trading date – 07 January 2025
• Payment date – 24 January 2025

Government bonds offer a reliable way to earn fixed income by lending money to the government in exchange for regular interest payments. 

Last week, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) kept the repo rate at 8.25% for the seventh consecutive meeting in July 2024, as expected. Two policymakers favoured a 25 basis point cut. 

The year 2024 is poised to become a landmark moment in history, with over 2 billion people worldwide preparing to cast their votes in elections spanning countries like the US, India, the European Union, Mexico, and South Africa, as highlighted by the World Economic Forum.