Shell is due to pay a dividend of 47c per share/1.5% on Thurs 16 May

• Shell pays a 47c/1.5% dividend. Currently at 2407p (at time of writing).
• Shares -5.6% from 2019 highs; +8.1% from 2019 lows; +5.9% year-to date.
• All CFD positions held over 4.30pm on Weds, 15 May will be paid a dividend at 7:15am on Thurs, 16 May.
• Those using Shell CFDs receive the dividend 27 days earlier than those using shares.
• On the day the shares trade ex-dividend the share price tends to drop by the same amount.

Click to enlarge

Trading Shell – An Example

Let’s say you like Shell and would like to get the 47c/1.5% dividend. You decide to buy exposure to £10,000 worth of Shell using a CFD, at the current price of 2407p. To do this, you need £2,000.

Shares that go ex-dividend typically fall by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date. Many shares then tend to recover over a period of time, helped by dividends being reinvested, creating a dividend recovery trade opportunity.

Assuming Shell shares recover to their pre-dividend share price, your profit from the dividend would be £150, from your initial investment of £2,000.

Be aware that the share price could fall or rise, which could mean that you make an overall loss or increased profit on the position. For example, let’s assume that Shell falls 2% at the same time it pays the dividend. You overall net loss on your £10,000 position would be £200.

This is provided for information purposes only. It should not be taken as a recommendation.