Evolution tips more payouts after lifting dividend
Evolution Mining has bumped up its final dividend amid a rising gold price.
Evolution Mining has bumped up its final dividend amid a rising gold price, adjusting its shareholder return policy to focus on free cash flow from its mines.
Evolution will pay a 6c a share final dividend, bumping total returns for the year to 9.5c a share. The company said the final payout reflects its new policy of returning half of the free cash flow delivered by its mines, with Evolution to deliver the $102 million in dividend cheques in late September.
The dividend lift, from last year’s 4c a share final payment, comes as markets tumbled overnight on the back of renewed concerns major global economies are heading towards recession, underlining gold’s status as a safe haven. Gold was trading sideways today, in Australian dollar terms, with the price of the precious metal lifting in slightly in early trading, to $2248 an ounce at 9am.
Evolution’s increased dividend comes despite rising costs hitting the company’s bottom line, with after-tax profits falling 13 per cent to $218.2 million.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell $64.8 million, or 8 per cent, to $730.3 million, with operating cash from Evolution’s mines down 5 per cent to $775.5 million.
The company said market conditions meant its costs had risen from a low base 12 to 18 months ago, with the labour market starting to tighten - labour costs lifted 3 per cent last financial year and expected to lift again by 3.5 to 4.5 per cent in the current financial year - and power costs up $7.5 million for the year.
Evolution said it mines had returned EBITDA margins of 48 per cent last financial year.
Evolution boss Jake Klein said the company expected the higher gold price to lead to increased shareholder payouts in the current fiscal year.
“With the current spot price around $450 higher than the $1,760 per ounce gold price achieved in FY19, we remain focused on maintaining our low cost base to bank every additional dollar and return excess funds to our shareholders,” he said.
Evolution shares closed at $5.16 last night.