Vedanta Ltd, the prominent mining conglomerate, has announced that its board will meet on 8 October 2024 to consider and potentially approve its fourth interim dividend for the financial year 2024-25. This move continues the company’s trend of rewarding shareholders, reinforcing investor confidence.
The decision comes amid ongoing discussions about Vedanta's future financial strategies, a company that is often favoured by those who invest in stocks.
Record date set for determining eligibility
In its official exchange filing, Vedanta clarified that the record date for determining shareholders’ entitlement to the fourth dividend, should it be declared, will be 16 October 2024. This means that all shareholders on record by this date will be eligible to receive the interim dividend.
So far, for the financial year 2024-25, Vedanta has approved a total dividend payout amounting to ₹13,474 crore, demonstrating its commitment to distributing profits to its equity shareholders. This substantial payout has been spread across the year, with multiple interim dividends already announced.
Previous dividends in FY 2024-25
Vedanta’s board has been consistent with its dividend declarations throughout this financial year. On 2 September 2024, the board approved the third interim dividend of ₹20 per share, which further increased the total payout to ₹13,474 crore. This follows earlier announcements, such as the second interim dividend of ₹4 per share, which was approved on 26 July 2024, amounting to ₹1,564 crore.
Before that, on 16 May 2024, Vedanta had declared the first interim dividend of ₹11 per equity share, totalling ₹4,089 crore. These dividend declarations highlight the company's solid financial performance and its focus on rewarding its shareholders at regular intervals.
Vedanta's past dividend performance
Vedanta’s dividend payout practices have historically been favourable to its shareholders. During the previous financial year (2023-24), Vedanta declared a total interim dividend of ₹29.5 per share, amounting to ₹10,966 crore. This demonstrates the company’s strong dividend distribution policies, which have consistently returned value to its shareholders.
Financial outlook and plans
Vedanta Resources, the parent company of Vedanta Ltd, has made it clear that it does not expect to roll over its existing loans. Instead, it has laid out a plan to reduce its debt by as much as $3 billion over the next three years. This move towards deleveraging is seen as a strategic effort to strengthen the company’s financial stability, which may appeal to those who continue to invest in stocks.
In conclusion, Vedanta's commitment to dividend payouts underscores its focus on enhancing shareholder value while maintaining a prudent approach to managing its financial obligations. With the fourth interim dividend announcement expected soon, shareholders can look forward to yet another potential reward for their investments. As the company continues to pursue both growth and debt reduction, its financial strategies are likely to remain under scrutiny by investors and market analysts alike.