2024-07-03 11:33:00 ET
Semiconductor titan Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is known for its generous dividends. Or at least, it used to serve income investors a rich helping of quarterly payouts. However, Intel switched gears last year.
The company cut its quarterly dividend per share from $0.365 to $0.125 in the spring of 2023. The payout has stayed firm since that painful cut, consistently adding up to $0.50 per share on an annual basis. The move was part of Intel's updated capital allocation strategy, as the company pulled out all stops to accelerate the construction of more and better chipmaking facilities.
Intel spent $3.1 billion on dividend payments in 2023. That's 49% below an all-time high of $6 billion in 2022. The dividend bill for 2024 should be very similar to last year's, since Intel's board isn't likely to increase the payout this year. The chip-building facility buildup is still happening and Intel needs to conserve costs in other areas. Free cash flows are currently negative, reflecting Intel's cash-intensive infrastructure project.
For further details see:
What Is the Dividend Payout for Intel?