Shares of ITC Limited edged lower in Wednesday’s trading session despite a broadly positive market trend, as investors appeared cautious ahead of the company’s upcoming dividend payout. The stock was trading at ₹321.65 on the NSE at 11:25 am IST, down 0.57% for the day.Over the past six months, the FMCG stock has declined nearly 19.5%, reflecting sustained selling pressure even as benchmark indices showed resilience.
The first interim dividend for FY26 was announced along with the Q3 results on January 29. The record date for the dividend payout was fixed on February 4, 2026.The interim dividend will be paid between Thursday, February 26, and Saturday, February 28, to the eligible shareholders, ITC said in a regulatory filing. Eligible shareholders will receive an interim dividend of Rs 6.5 per ordinary share of face value Rs 1 each. The cigarette and FMCG major paid a dividend amounting to Rs 14.35 per share in the last 12 months.
In line with its past practice, ITC had also paid an interim dividend of Rs 6.5 per share in Q3FY25, which was the only interim dividend declared by the company during that financial year.So far, ITC has declared 32 dividends since 2001. The company’s dividend yield is 4.50%. The stock is also known as ‘Dividend King’ for its consistent track record of paying dividend to shareholders. ITC shares have recovered 7% from their February low after plunging 20% in January after cigarette stocks, which had gone up in smoke at the start of the year following a steep excise duty hike.