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How to buy Woolworths shares
See the latest ASX:WOW share price and follow these steps to buy Woolworths shares online.
Woolworths shares (ASX:WOW) are among the most popular blue chip shares held by Australian investors, along with Wesfarmers, Telstra, BHP and the Big Four banks.
Follow the four steps below to buy Woolworths shares, and learn about its historical share prices and dividend payments later in this guide.
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Here’s how to buy Woolworths shares
Follow these steps to buy Woolworths shares. If you already have a share trading account, go straight to step three.
1. Compare share trading accounts.
You can use the table below to compare brokerage fees and the available markets offered with leading online share trading accounts. When you’ve chosen an account, click “Go to Site” to begin the online application.
2. Complete the online application.
You’ll need to provide your full name, residential address, tax file number and proof of ID using your driver’s licence, Medicare and/or passport details.
3. Fund your cash account.
Transfer money to your new linked cash account (you’ll receive this at the same time as your share trading account). Remember to transfer enough to cover not only the amount of shares you’d like to buy, but any brokerage fees too.
4. Place your order for Woolworths shares.
Create a new order to buy Woolworths shares using your online share trading platform. Enter the ASX code (WOW), select your target purchase price plus how many shares you’d like to buy (or buy at market if you don’t have a target price in mind).
Your shares will be added to your portfolio when your price target is hit, and you’ll receive a confirmation note from the broker. The money for these shares will come straight out of your linked cash account, which is why it’s important to make sure you have enough funds available before completing your order.
Compare share trading accounts to buy Woolworths shares
Quick facts on Woolworths
Woolworths is one of the biggest supermarket chains in Australia, and also the owner of Dan Murphy’s and Big W retail outlets.
- Full name: Woolworths Group
- ASX ticker code: ASX:WOW
- Industry: Consumer staples/retail
- Market cap: $37.47b (2018)
- CEO: Bradford Banducci (2018)
- Key competitors: Wesfarmers (owner of Coles, Kmart and Officeworks), Aldi, IGA
- Woolworths brands: Woolworths supermarkets, BWS, Big W, Caltex, Dan Murphy’s, Dick Smith
ASX:WOW historical share prices
We’ve included a table below detailing the exact share price figures for six-month intervals between the start of 2016 and mid-2018. While the price might have dipped lower or peaked high in between these dates, looking at the price difference between January 2016 to mid-2018, it’s clear the share price has gradually gone up over time.
| Date | ASX:WOW price (AUD high) | ASX:WOW price (AUD low) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2018 | $29.70 | $29.51 |
| 17 Jan 2018 | $27.27 | $26.90 |
| 16 Aug 2017 | $27.21 | $27.05 |
| 18 Jan 2017 | $24.39 | $24.17 |
| 15 Aug 2016 | $23.58 | $23.30 |
| 14 Jan 2016 | $23.00 | $22.66 |
Woolworths dividend information
Like its major competitor Wesfarmers, Woolworths is known for paying generous fully-franked dividends to shareholders. If a share is full franked it means the company (Woolworths) has already paid tax on those earnings, so the shareholder doesn’t need to pay any additional tax on these dividends.
Take a look at the below table, showing the Woolworths dividend payments between mid-2015 to late-2018. The company pays dividends twice a year, and the dividends are always fully franked. Because the dividend payments are per share, the more shares you own the higher your dividend payment will be.
| Payment date | Dividend per share (AUD) | Franking |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2018 | $0.60 | 100% |
| 6 Apr 2018 | $0.43 | 100% |
| 6 Oct 2017 | $0.50 | 100% |
| 7 Apr 2017 | $0.34 | 100% |
| 7 Oct 2016 | $0.33 | 100% |
| 8 Apr 2016 | $0.44 | 100% |
| 9 Oct 2015 | $0.72 | 100% |
Source: Woolworths Group
Should you buy Woolworths shares?
Here’s what to consider before deciding to buy Woolworths shares.
- The share price. Read news articles, Woolworths company announcements and broker recommendations on the Woolworths share price. This will help give you an idea whether the shares are fairly priced or not.
- Woolworths dividend. The Woolworths latest annual report (available on its website) will include future plans for the company’s dividend. It’s often a good sign when a company plans to increase its dividend, as this is a sign of increased profits.
- Competitors. Undoubtedly Woolworths' biggest competitor is rival supermarket chain Coles (owned by Wesfarmers). As these stores are both competing for the same customers, it’s a good idea to consider both companies before buying shares in either one.
- Future market conditions. Do you think online retail players like Amazon will eventually steal customers away from retailers like Woolworths? What is Woolworths’ plan to tackle increased competition from online brands? These are questions you should ask before buying shares.
- Woolworths brands. While the major brand that comes to mind is Woolworths supermarket stores, Woolworths Group owns a number of leading retail brands including Big W and Dan Murphy’s. Take a look at how these stores are performing as well.
If you’re looking for a more detailed beginners 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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