Key Highlights

  • Soul Patts' 63 cent fully franked final Dividend is payable today, 5 November 2026.
  • Total FY26 Ordinary Dividends rose 7.8% to 111 cents per share.
  • Net Cash Flow from investments rose 12% to $572 million.
  • Future payments are at the discretion of the board.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (ASX:SOL) leads the list of upcoming dividends on the ASX this week, with its 63 cent fully franked final dividend due today, 5 November 2026. The dividend is up 6.8%, and total FY26 ordinary dividends of 111 cents per share are up 7.8%. Shares traded ex-dividend on Monday, 12 October, after a final eligibility date of 9 October, and the company reactivated its Dividend reinvestment plan for this payment, with an election deadline of 14 October.

The Payment Timetable

Soul Patts has a July balance date, which places its dividend payments later than those of many other June-year companies. The FY26 result was released on 24 September 2026, the ex-dividend date was 12 October and payment follows on 5 November. Under standard ASX settlement, the Record Date falls one Business day after the ex-dividend date, which determines the shareholders entitled to payment.

Soul Patts has a long dividend history that is often cited by investors, and it has regularly raised its dividend over time. Each year's increase is a matter for the board, however, and past payments do not guarantee future ones. The dividend reinvestment plan's reintroduction gives shareholders the option to take new shares rather than cash for the final dividend.

Cash Flow Behind the Dividend

Soul Patts funds its dividends largely from net cash flow from investments, which rose 12% to $572 million for FY26. This figure reflects dividends, distributions and other cash received from the portfolio, less corporate costs. It differs from statutory net profit, which rose 502% to $2.19 billion and includes one-off gains from the Brickworks merger.

Investors tend to focus on the cash measure in assessing dividend capacity, because statutory profit in FY26 was affected by accounting items associated with the merger. Ordinary dividends of 111 cents per share should be compared with the cash generated per share, which is set out in the company's results materials. The relationship between the two can show how much headroom the company has.

The Portfolio Reset

The Brickworks merger, completed early in the financial year, changed the company's structure and tax position. Soul Patts sold down equities, including its TPG Telecom stake, and sold its Goodman industrial property joint venture for $1.9 billion. Those transactions have added Liquidity and provided Capital to rotate into other investments, including global private markets.

Post-tax net asset value was $14.5 billion, up 27.2% per share, and pre-tax net asset value was $13.7 billion, up 10.4%. Management has identified liquidity management, a defensive portfolio and long-term structural growth sectors as priorities. Investment income will be influenced by how these new positions perform and how quickly cash can be deployed.

Why Franking Matters Here

The dividend is fully franked, and investment companies can pass franking credits received from their holdings or earned on their own tax payments. For Australian shareholders, this means a further value beyond the cash received, subject to their tax position. The change in the company's tax base after the Merger is an item that may affect how it manages franking in the future, though the 63 cent dividend is fully franked.

Investors using self-managed Superannuation funds often pay attention to franking because of how it interacts with their tax rate. However, the actual benefit differs across individuals and entities. Dividend statements provide the franked amount and related credits, and shareholders with questions about their specific position should consider professional tax guidance rather than relying on general commentary.

Other Payments Nearby

Other upcoming dividends and distributions on the ASX include Arena REIT's 4.50 cent distribution due on 12 November and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT's 6.4 cent distribution due on 13 November. Charter Hall Retail REIT's 6.6 cent distribution follows on 27 November, and Waypoint REIT's 4.3 cent distribution is due on 30 November. Those property payments are generally unfranked.

Banks form the next major group, with National Australia Bank paying on 15 December, Macquarie on 17 December, ANZ on 18 December and Westpac on 21 December. Soul Patts' November payment therefore arrives ahead of this cluster. For shareholders tracking income through the year, the differences between year ends can spread cash receipts more evenly across the calendar.

Economic Backdrop

The Reserve Bank's cash rate of 4.85% has raised the return available on cash, which may affect how investors compare dividends with term deposits. Higher rates may also influence the value of the company's investments. Soul Patts itself says its cash reserves leave room for new investments, particularly in periods of volatility, so higher rates can benefit its income from liquidity while it waits to deploy capital.

Risks are also elevated, according to the Reserve Bank, due to the unresolved Middle East conflict and weak productivity. Brickworks' consolidation gives the group exposure to building products, and the Central Bank expects dwelling investment to be weighed down by higher rates and weaker housing. The group's results will show how this affects cash flow in FY27.

Payment today means that entitled holders should expect funds or new shares under their election, in line with the registry's arrangements. The company's next dividend decision is expected with its half-year result. The company's calendar, including its annual general meeting, is published on its investor pages and via ASX announcements, and shareholders can check those sources for confirmed dates.

Shareholders can confirm their election and payment details with the registry.

Key Takeaways

Soul Patts' 63 cent fully franked final dividend is payable today, 5 November 2026, bringing total FY26 ordinary dividends to 111 cents per share, up 7.8%. Net cash flow from investments rose 12% to $572 million. Upcoming distributions from property trusts and bank dividends follow later this month and in December. Future payments are at the discretion of the board.