Well, it's December, and the year is winding down to its inevitable conclusion. December and January are normally fairly sleepy months in terms of big ASX news. Saying that, investors do sometimes enjoy the fabled 'Santa rally', as was the case last year. However, even though 2025 is nearly upon us, there are still a few ASX 300 shares that will trade ex-dividend before the year is out.
Many of the ASX's biggest dividend shares scheduled to pay out over December (as well as a few for January) have already traded ex-dividend for these shareholder payments. This includes National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ).
The latest dividends from these ASX 300 shares will arrive later this month. But even so, new investors are no longer eligible to receive these payments as these stocks have already passed their ex-dividend dates.
However, the three ASX 300 shares named below, which are scheduled for dividend payments in January, have not. As such, those who want to secure their latest payouts still have time to buy the shares before the ex-dividend date.
3 ASX 300 dividend shares trading ex-dividend in December
First up is ASX 300 agricultural stock Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD). Elders is set to break with its past habit and will pay out its next final dividend on 24 January next month. This dividend will be worth 18 cents per share and will come partially franked at 70%.
Investors have until 16 December to secure this dividend, with Elders scheduled to trade ex-dividend on 17 December.
As of yesterday's close, Elders was trading on a dividend yield of 4.71%.
Next, we have the ASX 300 share and company behind IGA and Mitre 10, Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS). Metcash only revealed the value of its next dividend earlier this week. As we covered at the time, it will be an 8.5 cents per share payment, replete with full franking credits.
Clearly not a superstitious ASX 300 share, Metcash has selected Friday, 13 December, as the ex-dividend date for this upcoming payment. Payday for those eligible investors will then roll around next month on 29 January. Metcash last traded on a dividend yield of 5.07%.
Finally, let's discuss another ASX 300 share and agricultural stock in Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF). This real estate investment trust (REIT) pays out its dividend distributions on a quarterly basis rather than the typical bi-monthly schedule.
Rural Funds' latest quarterly dividend distribution is set to arrive on 31 January, right at the tail end of next month. However, the company will trade ex-dividend for this payment on 30 December.
This payment will be worth 2.93 cents per share and, as is typical with a REIT, will not include franking credits. Rural Funds' current dividend yield is 6.36%.
