A record-breaking $97.9 billion of dividends made their way to those invested in ASX shares over the 12 months ended 31 March.
That’s 5.3% more than the market’s previous ASX 12-month record, according to research by Janus Henderson Group (ASX: JHG).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the top 20 ASX dividend payers of the period, 19 are S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) constituents. Additionally, mining shares are overrepresented when it comes to ASX dividend payouts.
Here are the stocks proven to be Australia’s biggest dividend payers.
Here are the ASX’s top dividend-paying shares
ASX shareholders, rejoice! Australia is one of the few nations to see dividend payments surpass pre-COVID-19 levels.
The global reopening and sky-high commodity prices boosted ASX dividends over the 12 months ended March. In fact, mining companies accounted for $1 in every $2 of dividends handed to investors over that period.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has come in as the biggest dividend payer – handing shareholders $10.8 billion of dividends in the first quarter of 2022 alone.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) came in second despite dropping its interim dividend by 42% in February.
Luckily that drop was partially made up by a higher payout from Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO).
Outside of the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) dividend led the pack. It was lifted by 17% in February.
CBA’s big bank peers Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX: NAB), and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) followed. Others included:
- Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)
- Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)
- CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)
- Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).
- Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)
- Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)
- Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)
- James Hardie Industries (ASX: JHX)
- Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)
- Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)
- Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and
- Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WPL)
New Zealand’s Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX: MEZ) was the only non-ASX 200 share to make the list. It rounded out the top 20 dividend shares of the 12 months ended March.
The post ASX shares paid out a record $98b in dividends in the 12 months to March. Which are the star performers? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET, Telstra Corporation Limited, and Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group Limited and Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
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