More cash will find its way back to investors' pockets today with Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) set to pay its interim dividend.
When it reported its interim earnings results in February, the telecommunications titan announced a fully franked dividend of 15.5 cents. It was a 3.3% improvement on the prior corresponding period (15 cents) thanks, in part, to a 0.8% increase in group earnings, but the same as the dividend paid in the period immediately prior.
In total, the telco will give away just under $1.9 billion. Of course, some of that will find its way back into Telstra's own shares (particularly given its Dividend Reinvestment Plan), but a large portion of the proceeds could also be put towards the shares of other quality businesses trading on the ASX.
After all, the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is still hovering below 5,100 points, compared to a high of nearly 6,000 around this time last year. Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) will also distribute $386 million to eligible shareholders, with companies such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) to follow up next week.
In total, more than $19 billion is expected to be distributed to investors this week and over the next few weeks as well.
