AirAsia near record high ahead of dividend going ex

Shares of low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd climbed to a near record high of RM3.55 on Friday ahead of its dividend going ex on Sept 13.

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd climbed to a near record high of RM3.55 on Friday ahead of its dividend going ex on Sept 13.

At 3.15pm, it was up 14 sen to RM3.54. The highest was RM3.59 on May 16, 2017 while its 52-week low was RM2.16 on Jan 5, 2017.

There were 14.80 million shares done at prices ranging from RM3.39 to RM3.55.

The FBM KLCI was down 6.57 points or 0.37% to 1,776.41. Turnover was 2.12 billion shares valued at RM1.39bil. There were 356 gainers, 363 lower and 458 counters unchanged.

AirAsia's dividend of 12 sen a share will be traded and quoted ex-dividend as from Sept 13 and the last day of lodgement is Sept 15.

The date payable is Oct 13.

At RM3.55, it is trading at a price-to-earnings of seven time and for the FY ending Dec 31, 2017, it is at 9.03 ties. 

Goldman Sachs has a Neutral call with a target price of RM3.35 while Affi Hwang Capital Research has a hold at RM3.41. Kenanga Investment Bank Research has an Outperform at RM4.05.

However, JP Morgan has an Underweight and target price of RM2.90.