Intelligent Investor

Telstra cuts dividend

Telstra has shocked the market with a cut to its dividend.
By · 17 Aug 2017
By ·
17 Aug 2017 · 1 min read
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Recommendation

Telstra Group Limited - TLS
Buy
below 3.30
Hold
up to 4.50
Sell
above 4.50
Buy Hold Sell Meter
HOLD at $3.98
Current price
$3.69 at 16:40 (23 April 2024)

Price at review
$3.98 at (17 August 2017)

Max Portfolio Weighting
7%

Business Risk
Low

Share Price Risk
Medium
All Prices are in AUD ($)

Telstra shares fell almost 10% today after the telco announced a surprise 30% cut in dividends. It's important to note that the dividend cut reflects a change in strategy rather than any (immediate) shortfall of cash. In other words, Telstra could afford a very high payout ratio, but has elected to reduce it.

This is sensible. The completion of the NBN and new competition in mobile will threaten Telstra's best-in-world margins and the business is saving cash to respond aggressively. The share price fall may be an overreaction but it isn't an opportunity. Shareholders don't need to act in response to it. We will have a more detailed review of the results early next week. HOLD.

IMPORTANT: Intelligent Investor is published by InvestSMART Financial Services Pty Limited AFSL 226435 (Licensee). Information is general financial product advice. You should consider your own personal objectives, financial situation and needs before making any investment decision and review the Product Disclosure Statement. InvestSMART Funds Management Limited (RE) is the responsible entity of various managed investment schemes and is a related party of the Licensee. The RE may own, buy or sell the shares suggested in this article simultaneous with, or following the release of this article. Any such transaction could affect the price of the share. All indications of performance returns are historical and cannot be relied upon as an indicator for future performance.
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