Latest News

Australia's iron ore giants to lean conservative on dividends, analysts say

Australia's iron ore majors are anticipated to restrict dividend payments in their halfyear results today, keeping money on hand for big capital costs on energy transitionlinked development, experts said.

Iron ore rates balancing $120 a tonne and well above historical levels have supported earnings this year for BHP , Rio Tinto and Fortescue.

Diversified miners BHP and Rio Tinto, which are reporting their half- and full-year results, respectively, are anticipated to report earnings flat to slightly lower, with Rio Tinto's. performance hurt by falling rates for aluminium.

Usually you're trying to find payout ratios to be slightly. more conservative than in the current past as their focus shifts. from returns to development, expert Glyn Lawcock of Barrenjoey. stated.

BHP's dividend policy is to pay a minimum of 50% of. profits each half, with analysts anticipating the ratio to be. closer to the 50% level this half.

We expect BHP to be more conservative with the dividend. payout, as its net debt has actually lifted towards the upper end of its. target range following the OZ Minerals acquisition, capex is set. to increase, and it deals with the eventual Samarco settlement. presently under negotiation, UBS stated.

BHP recently flagged $5.7 bln impairments linked to its. Brazilian Samarco dam failure and its Western Australia Nickel. organization. It is likewise preparing to induce line its Jansen pot. ash job in Canada.

UBS anticipates BHP's dividend may be slightly conservative at. $ 0.66 vs agreement of $0.70

RIO TINTO

Rio Tinto is anticipated to state a strong last dividend,. however hold back on extra shareholder returns as it readies. its joint Simandou iron ore job in Guinea and an expansion. at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.

UBS expects Rio Tinto to reveal a dividend of around. $ 2.74, well ahead of agreement of $2.43, with a payment ratio of. 69% given strong functional efficiency and realised rates,. and low net debt.

Morgan Stanley expects Rio Tinto to keep back on unique. dividends.

Regardless of Rio's strong balance sheet ... we do not see. prospective for further capital management from Rio given. increasing development capex plans, especially at Simandou and Oyu. Tolgoi, it said.

FORTESCUE

Analysts anticipate Fortescue to pay between 60-70% of. underlying net revenue on strong iron ore rates and narrow. discount rates for its low grade 58% iron ore, as Chinese steel. makers turn to more affordable ore to protect margins.

Fortescue's policy is of paying 50-80% of underlying web. earnings after tax. Analysts see threats to the payout rate as the. miner invests in its energy department.

Agreement quote for Fortescue's dividend is 67.8 cents,. 63% of its payout ratio.

BHP reports on Feb. 20, Rio Tinto on Feb. 21 and Fortescue. on Feb 22.

(source: Reuters)