Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares have a reputation for generous dividend payments, but is this changing?
The miner has a payout policy of returning 50% to 80% of full-year underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to shareholders as dividends.
In FY25, the pure-play ASX 200 iron ore miner paid an annual dividend of $1.10 per share, equating to 65% of NPAT.
NPAT fell substantially in FY25, coming in at US$3.4 billion, which was 41% lower than FY24.
The miner reported 198.4 million wet metric tonnes of shipped iron ore for FY25, up 4% on FY24.
The FY26 guidance is 195 to 205 million wet metric tonnes.
The consensus expectation among analysts on the CommSec platform is that Fortescue will pay substantially lower dividends from here.
The current consensus forecast for FY26 dividends is 92.3 cents per share.
Based on a Fortescue share price of $21.80, that equates to a pretty modest dividend yield of 4.2% (with full franking).
The forecast for FY27 is 82 cents per share, or a yield of 3.75%. The forecast for FY28 is 75 cents per share, or a yield of 3.4%.
With all that said, here are the dates for Fortescue’s dividend announcements next year.
When will Fortescue announce its 2026 dividends?
Fortescue will announce its 1H FY26 results and interim dividend on 25 February.
The full-year FY26 results and final dividend will be revealed on 24 August.
We’ll get quarterly production reports on 22 January, 23 April, 23 July, and 22 October.
Fortescue will hold its annual general meeting on 29 October.
What happened to the Fortescue share price this year?
The Fortescue share price has increased by more than 15% in 2025.
The iron ore price remains above the psychological threshold of US$100 per tonne, and has risen 3% this year.
In October, Fortescue reported a first-quarter record in total iron ore shipments at 49.7 million wet metric tonnes.
However, this was 10% lower than 4Q FY25.
Should you buy Fortescue shares?
Analysts are divided on Fortescue shares.
Ord Minnett reiterated its buy rating on Fortescue shares following the September quarter production report.
The broker has a share price target of $20 to $21.50 on the ASX 200 mining giant.
Bell Potter upgraded its rating on Fortescue shares to a hold with a price target range of $17.05 to $19.30.
UBS reiterated its hold rating with a price target of $20.
Macquarie reiterated its sell rating on Fortescue shares with a price target of $16.50 to $18.50.
Jarden also has a sell rating with a price target of $16.
The post Invested in Fortescue shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Should you invest $1,000 in Fortescue Metals Group right now?
Before you buy Fortescue Metals Group shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fortescue Metals Group wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
* Returns as of 18 November 2025
.custom-cta-button p {
margin-bottom: 0 !important;
}
More reading
- If I invest $10,000 in Fortescue shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2026?
- I was a huge fan of Fortescue shares, then this happenedâ¦
- Woodside vs Fortescue shares: One I’d buy and one I’d sell
- Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for Fortescue shares
- ASX 200 mining shares rip as lithium makes a comeback
Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Leave a Reply