Dividends represent a portion of a company's profits distributed to its shareholders. They are typically paid out regularly - either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually - as a reward for holding shares in the company or asset. These payments are essentially a way for companies to share their financial success with their investors. In 2023, dividend-paying stocks on EasyEquities paid over R500 million from local markets and $3 million from the US to investors.
Dividend yield is a key metric for income-seeking investors, representing annual dividend payments as a percentage of a stock's current market price. It gives investors an idea of potential returns from holding a stock in dividends.
Companies have different dividend payment schedules, like monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, and the yield calculations are adjusted accordingly. For instance, a company offering a 10% annual dividend yield would mean R100 in dividends for a R1000 investment over the year. If the same company pays quarterly dividends, you could potentially receive R25 each quarter, totalling R100 annually, maintaining the same yield but with varying payment timings based on the company's distribution schedule.
As of writing:
Annual Dividend Yield: 15% Dividend schedule: Monthly (Jan to Dec)
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Annual Dividend Yield: 15% Dividend schedule: Semi-Annually (May & Nov)
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Annual Dividend Yield: 14% Dividend schedule: Semi-Annually (Jun & Dec)
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Annual Dividend Yield: 11% Dividend schedule: Semi-Annually (Feb & Aug)
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Future company performance affects share prices and dividends. Positive performance tends to raise shares, while poor performance may lower them. The change in price may also impact future dividend yield, which adjusts with market conditions.
Interest Payments
Dividends are commonly associated with stocks, but they're not exclusive to equity investments. Debt instruments, like bonds and currency ETNs (exchange-traded notes), also offer returns to investors through regular interest payments.
Unlike dividends, which depend on a company's profitability and discretion, interest payments can be contractual obligations, providing investors with predictable income streams. Currency ETNs pay interest to noteholders based on different rates while tracking the performance of a specific currency. Government bonds pay investors fixed interest (coupon) twice a year. For example, if you hold 1000 units of a bond with a 10% annual coupon, you would receive R50 every six months, calculated as 1000 units multiplied by the coupon rate (10%) divided by 2 (since it's paid semi-annually).
Rental Income
EasyProperties provides a distinctive opportunity for real estate investment outside conventional listed instruments, offering access to unlisted properties. This setup offers advantages such as potential long-term returns from property appreciation driven by market demand and development, with minimized exposure to market volatility. EasyProperties enables investors to buy or sell shares during auction periods and offers dividends from rental income. Last year, a total of nearly R10 million was distributed to property investors, providing a reliable income stream alongside potential capital appreciation and enhancing portfolio diversification with real estate assets.
The Carrington
Total 2023 Dividend Per Share: R0.11 Estimated Growth in NAV/share in 2023: +3%
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SIX ON N
Total 2023 Dividend Per Share: R0.11 Estimated Growth in NAV/share in 2023: +5%
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BlackBrick Cape Town
Total 2023 Dividend Per Share: R0.08 Estimated Growth in NAV/share in 2023: +16%
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Four on O - Sea Point
Total 2023 Dividend Per Share: R0.08 Estimated Growth in NAV/share in 2023: +14%
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NAV growth refers to the increase in the Net Asset Value (NAV) of an investment over a certain period of time. "Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share" refers to assets less liabilities, divided by the number of shares that were issued.
Conclusion
While dividends are essential, value growth is equally vital in wealth accumulation. Growth stocks and real estate often yield lower dividends but appreciate in value over time. Currency ETNs hedge against currency depreciation, potentially increasing investment value. Bonds see value growth when interest rates decline, offering opportunities for capital appreciation. Thus, both dividends and value growth are crucial in building wealth across different assets.
Here's an example of some growth stocks that have a low dividend yield, which could mean lower dividends for shareholders, but rather strides in capital growth for investors over the past 12 months.
Dividend Yield: 0.02% 12 Mths Stock Performace: +252%
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Dividend Yield: First quarterly dividend $0.50 12 Mths Stock Performace: +174%
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Whether it's capital gains or dividend payouts, EasyEquities allows anyone to take advantage of market opportunities to turn cents into rands. With the fractionalisation of shares, investors can buy a fraction of any share and enjoy the value change, similar to a full share and dividends, if any are paid.
Disclaimer: Dividend payouts in this blog are for informational purposes only and may not reflect actual investor returns. Past performance does not guarantee future results, different types of investments involves varying risk.EasyEquities is not liable for any reliance on this data for investment decisions. Dividend yield is based on historical payouts and current share price, subject to change based on company performance and other factors - data as of 20 February 2024.