Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (ASX:SOL), commonly known as Soul Patts, is one of Australia's oldest and most respected diversified investment companies. Listed on the ASX since 1903, the company has a remarkably long history of continuous dividend payments and is often cited as a benchmark for conservative, long-term investment management in Australia.
Soul Patts operates as a holding company with a diversified portfolio of investments spanning multiple sectors, including building products (through its stake in Brickworks), coal (through New Hope Corporation), telecommunications (through TPG Telecom), copper mining, and financial services. The company takes a long-term, value-oriented approach to portfolio management, typically holding significant strategic stakes in its investee companies.
As of March 2026, Soul Patts has a market capitalisation of approximately AUD 15.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.29, and a reported profit margin of 253.55 percent. The extremely high profit margin is a function of the accounting treatment of investment revaluations and the recognition of share of profits from associates, which can significantly inflate reported margins in any given period.
Why It Is Considered a Dividend Stock
Soul Patts is perhaps the quintessential ASX dividend stock. The company has an unbroken record of dividend payments stretching back over a century, and it has increased its dividend every year since 2000. This extraordinary track record places Soul Patts among the most reliable income generators on the ASX. All dividends are fully franked, and the company's diversified portfolio provides multiple sources of income to support the distribution.
Latest Verified Dividend Data
The most recent dividend declared by Soul Patts was a fully franked interim dividend of 48 cents per share for FY2025, with an ex-dividend date of 20 April 2026 and a payment date of 14 May 2026. This interim dividend represented a 9.1 percent increase compared to the prior corresponding period. The annualised dividend per share is approximately AUD 1.07, yielding approximately 2.66 to 2.74 percent at current share prices. The Finder PDF reported a yield of 2.56 percent as of 30 March 2026. The five-year dividend compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is approximately 11.9 percent, demonstrating strong and consistent dividend growth.
Recent Dividend History and Trends
Soul Patts has never missed a dividend payment since listing in 1903, a record that is virtually unmatched on the ASX. The company has increased its dividend every year since 2000, making it one of the longest streaks of consecutive dividend increases among ASX-listed companies. The FY2024 final dividend was 59 cents per share (fully franked), and the progressive increase in the interim dividend to 48 cents per share in FY2025 continues this trend. The company's diversified portfolio and conservative financial management provide a stable foundation for maintaining this remarkable dividend track record.
Factors Supporting or Pressuring Future Dividends
Multiple factors support Soul Patts' dividend outlook. The company's diversified investment portfolio means that weakness in one sector can potentially be offset by strength in another. The strong performance of New Hope Corporation (coal) and Brickworks (building products) in recent years has been a significant contributor to group earnings and dividend capacity. The company's stated commitment to progressive dividend growth, combined with its substantial franking credit balance, provides confidence in the sustainability of the dividend. Potential risks include a downturn in any of the key investee companies, adverse movements in commodity prices (particularly coal and copper), and the general risks associated with a diversified investment portfolio.
Operating and Financial Context
Soul Patts' low P/E ratio of 6.29 may reflect the market's assessment of the sustainability of recent elevated earnings, particularly from coal operations. The company's long history, conservative management approach, and unbroken dividend record make it a core holding for many Australian income investors, and the 11.9 percent five-year dividend growth rate suggests that the company is not merely maintaining its dividend but actively growing it.






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