Upcoming ASX Dividends: What Is on the Calendar Right Now

The current dividend calendar reflects the heart of the 2026 interim season, with a substantial number of ASX-listed entities going ex-dividend in late March and early April. The data from Market Index shows a diverse mix of individual companies, real estate investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, and listed investment companies with upcoming distributions.

Late March 2026 Ex-Dividend Dates

A significant cluster of securities went or will go ex-dividend around 30 and 31 March 2026. This group includes a wide range of REITs such as Dexus Convenience Retail REIT (DXC), Centuria Industrial REIT (CIP), Centuria Office REIT (COF), Charter Hall Long Wale REIT (CLW), Waypoint REIT (WPR), Arena REIT (ARF), HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (HDN), and Charter Hall Retail REIT (CQR). These property trusts tend to pay distributions quarterly or half-yearly, and their payments are typically unfranked because REIT income passes through to unitholders without corporate tax being levied at the trust level.

Individual operating companies with late March ex-dividend dates include Verbrec Ltd (VBC), Rural Funds Group (RFF), DPM Metals Inc (DPM), EVZ Ltd (EVZ), Sequoia Financial Group (SEQ), and Wiseway Group (WWG). The amounts and franking levels vary considerably across this group.

The ETF space is also heavily represented, with major providers including iShares, State Street SPDR, Vanguard, Betashares, VanEck, and Global X all scheduling ex-dividend dates in this period. For ETF investors, this is a critical window because many funds distribute income only semi-annually, making it essential to hold units before the ex-date to capture six months of accumulated income.

Early April 2026 Ex-Dividend Dates

The first week of April 2026 sees an enormous wave of ETF distributions, particularly from Vanguard, Betashares, and VanEck. The Vanguard family alone has more than 30 ETFs going ex-dividend on 1 April, covering Australian shares (VAS), international shares (VGS, VGE), property (VAP), fixed income (VAF, VGB), and diversified multi-asset funds (VDBA, VDGR, VDHG). Betashares and VanEck have similarly large lineups.

Several notable individual companies also feature in early April. Harvey Norman Holdings (HVN) goes ex-dividend on 1 April, a closely watched date given the retailer's significance in the consumer discretionary sector. Lindsay Australia (LAU), ARB Corporation (ARB), and Ridley Corporation (RIC) are also on the calendar.

Later in April, the schedule includes companies such as Ramsay Health Care (RHCPA), Shine Justice (SHJ), Gowing Bros (GOW), Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (SXE), Myer Holdings (MYR), and several Wam family funds. Bank of Queensland (BOQPF) has a preference share distribution with an ex-date of 28 April.

May 2026 and Beyond

The dividend calendar extends well beyond April, with a number of companies showing ex-dividend dates in May 2026 and later. Challenger Ltd has two preference share distributions (CGFPD and CGFPC) going ex-dividend on 14 May, alongside Autosports Group (ASG) and United Overseas Australia (UOS). Various Wam family funds, including WAM Capital (WAM), Wam Research (WAX), Wam Microcap (WMI), and Wam Active (WAA), have May ex-dates as well.

Investors with a longer time horizon should monitor the reporting season in August 2026, which will bring the next major wave of final dividend declarations from companies with June financial year-ends. This will include the major banks, BHP, Rio Tinto, CSL, and many other large-cap stocks.

Selected Upcoming ASX Dividends: Summary Table

Note: This table is a representative sample. Investors should verify all dates and amounts directly with company announcements and the ASX.

Sector-by-Sector Breakdown of ASX Dividend Payers

Not all dividends are created equal. The sector in which a company operates has a profound influence on the size, frequency, franking level, and sustainability of its distributions. Understanding these sector-level dynamics is essential for building a diversified income portfolio.

Banks and Financial Services

The Big Four Australian banks, Commonwealth Bank (CBA), Westpac (WBC), ANZ Group (ANZ), and National Australia Bank (NAB), collectively account for a large proportion of total dividends paid on the ASX. Their dividends are typically fully franked and paid semi-annually. Gross dividend yields for the major banks generally range from 4 to 6 per cent, depending on the share price and payout ratio at any given time.

Beyond the Big Four, regional banks like Bank of Queensland (BOQ), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (BEN), and Macquarie Group (MQG) also feature prominently in income portfolios. Financial services companies such as Perpetual, Challenger, and GQG Partners add further diversity. GQG Partners in particular has attracted attention for its high yield, reportedly above 10 per cent, though investors should assess whether such yields are sustainable in the context of asset management fee income, which can be volatile.

Bank dividends are influenced by credit cycles, regulatory capital requirements from APRA, and the interest rate environment. Rising interest rates generally support bank profitability by widening net interest margins, which in turn supports dividend growth. Conversely, economic downturns that lead to rising bad debts can compress margins and force dividend cuts.

Resources and Mining

Australia's mining sector has historically been a generous source of dividends, particularly during commodity price booms. BHP Group, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue are the three largest dividend payers in the resources sector. Fortescue's current yield has been reported at approximately 6.23 per cent, fully franked. New Hope Corporation, a thermal coal producer, has also offered attractive yields above 6 per cent.

However, mining dividends are inherently cyclical. They rise dramatically when iron ore, coal, copper, or lithium prices are strong, and they can fall just as dramatically when prices decline. BHP's dividend history illustrates this pattern well, with record payouts during the 2021-2022 commodity boom followed by reductions as iron ore prices moderated. Investors who rely on mining dividends for income must be prepared for significant year-to-year variability.

Franking levels for mining companies depend on the proportion of income earned onshore versus offshore. BHP and Rio Tinto, with significant global operations, often pay partially franked dividends, while domestically focused miners like New Hope tend to pay fully franked dividends.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

REITs are a cornerstone of many Australian income portfolios. They are required to distribute the majority of their taxable income to unitholders, resulting in relatively high and predictable distribution yields. The upcoming ASX dividend calendar is densely populated with REITs, including Dexus Convenience Retail REIT, Centuria Industrial REIT, Centuria Office REIT, Charter Hall Long Wale REIT, Charter Hall Retail REIT, Waypoint REIT, Arena REIT, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT, Garda Property Group, Dexus Industria REIT, and 360 Capital REIT, among many others.

REIT distributions are generally unfranked because the trust structure means that income is not taxed at the entity level. Instead, distributions may include components of taxable income, tax-deferred income (which reduces the cost base of the investment), and capital gains, each with different tax treatment for the investor. Investors should review the distribution breakdown provided by the REIT's annual tax statement.

Sub-sectors within REITs include industrial (warehouses and logistics), retail (shopping centres), office, social infrastructure (childcare centres, hospitals), and diversified. Each sub-sector has different growth drivers and risk profiles. Industrial REITs have been a standout performer in recent years, driven by the growth of e-commerce and demand for logistics space. Office REITs have faced headwinds from the shift to hybrid work, while retail REITs are navigating the evolving landscape of physical versus online shopping.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

ETFs have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the ASX, and their distributions are a significant component of the upcoming dividend calendar. Major ETF providers including Vanguard, Betashares, iShares (BlackRock), State Street SPDR, VanEck, and Global X offer a wide range of funds that collect and distribute income to investors.

The distribution mechanics of ETFs depend on the underlying assets. An Australian equity ETF like Vanguard Australian Shares (VAS) or Betashares Australia 200 (A200) will pass through the dividends and franking credits from the underlying ASX shares. An international equity ETF like Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (VGS) will distribute foreign-sourced income, which is unfranked but may carry foreign income tax offsets. Bond ETFs distribute interest income, which is also unfranked.

Most ASX-listed ETFs distribute income semi-annually or quarterly, with ex-dividend dates in January, April, July, and October, or in March and September. The early April cluster visible in the current calendar reflects the end-of-quarter distribution cycle for many funds.

For income-focused investors, high-yield ETFs such as Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester Active ETF (HVST), Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (HYLD), State Street SPDR MSCI Australia Select High Dividend Yield ETF (SYI), and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (VHY) are specifically designed to target above-market yields. These funds use screening criteria that favour high-yielding stocks, and some employ active strategies to enhance income generation.

Listed Investment Companies (LICs)

LICs are a traditional structure in the Australian market, with some dating back decades. They operate as closed-end investment companies that trade on the ASX and pay dividends from their investment income and realised capital gains. Prominent LICs on the dividend calendar include various funds from the Wilson Asset Management (WAM) family, such as WAM Capital, WAM Leaders, WAM Research, WAM Microcap, and WAM Active, as well as MFF Capital Investments, Future Generation Australia, and Future Generation Global.

A distinguishing feature of LICs is their ability to smooth dividends over time by retaining profits in good years and drawing on reserves in lean years. This can result in more stable and predictable income streams compared to direct equity holdings, where dividends fluctuate with the underlying companies' earnings. However, the trade-off is that LIC share prices can trade at a premium or discount to their net tangible assets, introducing an additional layer of investment consideration.