EasyResearch Weekly Dividends Update

When companies regularly increase dividends, it signals financial stability and confidence in future earnings. For investors, this suggests consistent income and the potential for capital growth, making the company more attractive, particularly to income-focused investors.

This week's dividend update includes several companies with a history of boosting their dividends annually by up to 18% compared to the previous year.

So far:

• Vail Resorts, one of the largest mountain resort companies in the world, and General Dynamics, a major aerospace and defense company, increased their dividends by 7% compared to the previous year’s payouts.
• Roper Technologies, a diversified technology company that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses across various industries, increased its dividend by 9%.
• Intuit, a financial software company that develops and sells popular products like TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mint, and Accenture, a global professional services company, boosted their dividends by 15% and 14%, respectively.
• The New York Times, a leading news organization with a global reach, increased its dividend by 18%.

Additionally, HUYA Inc., a leading Chinese live-streaming platform primarily focused on video games, will be paying its second special dividend, which is nearly 20% of its current share price, as of writing.

As for local companies aiming to create value for shareholders through acquisitions and procurements, last week:

• ADvTECH announced that it acquired a Sandton site for a new university campus from FNB.
• Northam announced its first step toward renewable energy, finalizing an 80MW solar power PPA (Power Procurement Agreement) for its Zondereinde operation.
• Metair announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire AutoZone, a private distributor of automotive parts and accessories in South Africa.

South Africa 

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited will be paying R0.94 per share. 

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date – 14 October 2024

FirstRand Limited will be paying R2.15 per share. 

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date – 14 October 2024

Hyprop Investment Limited will be paying R2.80 per share. 

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date – 14 October 2024

Mustek Limited will be paying R0.07 per share. 

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date – 14 October 2024

Clientèle Limited will be paying R1.25 per share. 

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date – 14 October 2024

Texton Property Fund Limited will be paying R0.20 per share. 

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date – 14 October 2024

United Kingdom

Tesco PLC will be paying £0.04 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 22 November 2024

Kingfisher PLC will be paying £0.03 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 15 November 2024

WPP PLC will be paying £0.15 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 01 November 2024

American

Roper Technologies Inc will be paying $0.75 per share.

• Last trading date - 07 October 2024
• Payment date - 21 October 2024

Vail Resorts Inc will be paying $2.22 per share.

• Last trading date - 07 October 2024
• Payment date - 24 October 2024

New York Times Co will be paying $0.13 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date - 24 October 2024

American Tower Corporation will be paying $1.62 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date - 25 October 2024

HUYA Inc will be paying $1.08 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date - 25 October 2024

Mastercard Inc will be paying $0.66 per share.

• Last trading date - 08 October 2024
• Payment date - 08 November 2024

Intuit Inc will be paying $1.04 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 18 October 2024

Oracle Corp will be paying $0.40 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 24 October 2024

Delta Air Lines Inc will be paying $0.15 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 31 October 2024

General Mills Inc will be paying $0.60 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 01 November 2024

Verizon Communications Inc will be paying $0.67 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 01 November 2024

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

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 01 November 2024

Accenture Plc will be paying $1.48 per share.

• Last trading date - 09 October 2024
• Payment date - 15 November 2024

Marvell Technology Inc will be paying $0.06 per share.

• Last trading date - 10 October 2024
• Payment date - 31 October 2024

General Dynamics Corporation will be paying $1.42 per share.

• Last trading date - 10 October 2024
• Payment date - 15 November 2024

With the festive season approaching, tourists head to holiday destinations, presenting a market opportunity as money flows into the tourism sector.

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.