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How to buy Wesfarmers shares
Learn about the ASX:WES share price and follow these steps to add Wesfarmers shares to your portfolio.
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Wesfarmers is one of the biggest companies in the country, and its shares (ASX:WES) are some of the most widely held blue-chip shares among Australian investors.
Follow the four steps below to buy Wesfarmers shares, and learn about Wesfarmers’ historical share prices and dividend payments later in this guide.
Here’s how to buy Wesfarmers shares
Follow these steps to buy Wesfarmers shares. If you already have a share trading account, go straight to step three.
Compare share trading accounts.
Using the comparison table below, look for an online share trading account that has the features you’re looking for. That could be low brokerage fees, access to international markets, a user-friendly app or all of these things.
Complete the online application.
Click “Go to site” to begin your online application. You’ll need to provide your full name and Australian address, tax file number and proof of identity (your driver’s licence, Medicare number and passport details will be sufficient).
Fund your cash account.
You’ll receive a linked cash account when you open your share trading account. Fund your cash account with enough money to buy your shares, plus any brokerage fees.
Place your order.
Log in to your new share trading account and create a new order to buy Wesfarmers shares. You’ll need to fill out the ASX ticker code (WES) then select your target price plus how many shares you’d like to buy. If you don’t want to select a target price you can simply buy at market.
Your Wesfarmers shares will be bought and added to your portfolio when your price target is hit, and you’ll receive a confirmation note from the broker.
Compare share trading accounts to buy Wesfarmers shares
Quick facts on Wesfarmers
Wesfarmers is the parent company to some of the biggest household brands in Australia, including Coles, Kmart and Bunnings.
- Full name: Wesfarmers Limited
- ASX ticker code: ASX:WES
- Industry: Consumer staples
- ASX listing date: 1984
- Market cap: $59.72 billion (2018)
- Managing director: Rob Scott (2018)
- Key competitors: Woolworths (ASX:WOW), Aldi, IGA
- Wesfarmers brands: Coles, Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Liquorland
ASX:WES historical share prices
Looking at historical share prices is a great way see the general trend of Wesfarmers’ share price and how it’s moved over time. We’ve dug up Wesfarmers’ exact share prices for six-month intervals between the start of 2016 and mid-2018. Looking at the price difference between January 2016 and now, you can see the share price has gradually gone up over time. The high and low prices give you a good indicator of how much the stock price moves in one day, and as you can see Wesfarmers isn’t a highly volatile stock.
| Date | ASX:WES price (AUD high) | ASX:WES price (AUD low) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 July 2018 | $50.470 | $49.60 |
| 4 Jan 2018 | $44.640 | $44.120 |
| 6 July 2017 | $41.090 | $40.520 |
| 4 Jan 2017 | $42.800 | $42.300 |
| 6 July 2016 | $40.340 | $39.370 |
| 4 Jan 2016 | $42.090 | $41.370 |
Wesfarmers dividend information
One of the main appeals of investing in blue-chip stocks is they’re known for paying strong dividends to shareholders. Wesfarmers is no exception and is popular among investors for its decent fully franked dividend. Having fully franked dividends simply means Wesfarmers has already paid tax on those earnings, so shareholders don't need to pay tax on them again.
We’ve looked into the Wesfarmers' dividends over the last four years and put our findings into the table below. The interim dividend is announced before the company releases its full-year earnings, and the final dividend is announced after. As you can see, the company has gradually increased its dividend between 2015 and 2018. It’s a positive sign when a company increases its dividend, but remember that future dividends are never guaranteed and the company will review its dividend each year.
| Payment date | Dividend per share (AUD) | Franking |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Sept 2018 | $1.20 | 100% |
| 5 Apr 2018 | $1.03 | 100% |
| 28 Sept 2017 | $1.20 | 100% |
| 28 Mar 2017 | $1.03 | 100% |
| 5 Oct 2016 | $0.95 | 100% |
| 7 Apr 2016 | $0.91 | 100% |
| 30 Sept 2015 | $1.11 | 100% |
Source: Share Dividends
Should you buy Wesfarmers shares?
Here’s what to consider before deciding to buy Wesfarmers shares.
- The Wesfarmers share price. Figure out what price you’re comfortable paying for Wesfarmers shares. Read the news and any company announcements plus broker recommendations on the share price. If you think the price is a bit too high, you might decide to wait for it to drop a bit before buying.
- Wesfarmers dividend. The Wesfarmers dividend is certainly appealing, but how long will this dividend be on offer? The latest company announcements will reveal what Wesfarmers has planned for its dividend, and whether or not it’s here to stay.
- Competitors. One of Wesfarmers’ biggest competitors is Woolworths (ASX:WOW). Does Woolworths pose a threat to Coles, and in turn to Wesfarmers? Read Woolworths’ annual reports to see how it’s performing in relation to Coles and other Wesfarmers brands.
- Future market conditions. Consider Wesfarmers’ retail brands like Kmart and Officeworks. Do you think online retail giants like Amazon will steal customers away from these stores? Or are these businesses well placed to survive new online players?
- Wesfarmers brands. Does Wesfarmers plan to acquire any new brands over the next few years? This could be a positive sign for the share price, as new brands might help boost profits. Similarly, you should look into which brands Wesfarmers plans to close down.
If you’re looking for a more detailed beginner’s guide to online share trading, take a look at our guide for 7 steps to buying shares online.
Or, if you’re interested in buying shares in popular global brands like Netflix, Amazon or Apple, we have a handy guide for that, too.
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