Legal and General Dividend – Dates, Yield and Growth Guide

Legal & General Group (LGEN.LSE) has maintained a steady dividend track record for decades, even as the broader insurance sector faced uncertainty during the pandemic. The company now pays a semi-annual dividend with a yield around 8%, and its board has set a clear growth target for the coming years. Understanding the payment schedule, history, and forward guidance helps investors assess the stock’s income potential.

When is the Next Legal and General Dividend Date?

• Legal & General pays dividends semi-annually: an interim in late summer and a final in late spring.
• The 2025 final dividend (15.67p) goes ex-dividend on 23 April 2026 and is paid on 4 June 2026.
• The 2026 interim dividend is scheduled for ex-dividend on 20 August 2026, paid on 25 September 2026.
• Current annualised dividend per share stands at 21.79p, according to UK Investing.com.
• Dividend growth has followed a clear pattern: 5% for FY2024 and 2% from FY2025 onward, as per the June 2024 Capital Markets Event.
• Yield estimates range from 7.92% to 8.20%, placing LGEN among high-yield FTSE 100 stocks.
• The company has not suspended its dividend since the 2020 COVID-19 pause; payments resumed in 2021 and have grown steadily.

Has Legal and General Suspended Its Dividend?

In the materials reviewed, there is no evidence of a current suspension. Legal & General’s dividend history shows a brief pause in 2020 due to regulatory pressure on insurers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but dividends were reinstated in 2021 and have continued without interruption since then. The company’s retail shareholder centre lists a continuous record from 1998 onward, with the 2020 year reflecting a suspension.

The 2025 and 2026 dividends have been declared, and 2026 dates are already published. No recent announcements indicate a cut or halt. The board’s guidance explicitly targets growth, reinforcing the dividend’s safety.

What is Legal and General’s Dividend Yield and Growth?

Yield estimates

Current yield estimates cluster around 8%. Stock Events reports 8.01%, DivvyDiary shows an 8.09% forward yield, and Fidelity gives 8.20% for 2025. For 2026, Fidelity’s estimate is 7.92%, partly because buybacks are also contributing to shareholder returns.

Growth trajectory

The June 2024 Capital Markets Event confirmed the board’s intention to grow the dividend per share by 5% for FY2024 and 2% thereafter. This marks a shift from the previous “progressive” policy to a more explicit pace. The 2024 total of 21.36p reflected the 5% target, and the 2025 total of 21.79p aligns with the 2% step.

What is Legal and General’s Dividend History?

Legal & General has paid a dividend every year except 2020. The company’s official shareholder centre provides data going back to 1998. Recent per-share totals show consistent growth:

Third-party platforms such as Fidelity offer interactive dividend history charts, though the official site does not provide a visual graph. Investors can also find historical data on Yahoo Finance or investing.com.

What is Legal and General’s Dividend Guidance for 2024/2025?

At the June 2024 Capital Markets Event, Legal & General set out a clear dividend policy: grow the dividend per share by 5% for FY2024, then by 2% per year from FY2025 onward. The board also announced a £200m share buyback for 2024 and said it intended to conduct further similar buybacks in subsequent years. This combined approach is designed to return more capital to shareholders between 2024 and 2027.

The guidance represents a more explicit target than the previous “progressive” language. Future increases depend on earnings, regulatory conditions (Solvency II), and capital requirements. The 2025 total of 21.79p already reflects the first 2% step.

What Are the Key Events in Legal & General’s Dividend Timeline?

1. 2020 – Dividend suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic (regulatory pressure on insurers).
2. 2021 – Dividend reinstated at 18.45p total; progressive policy resumed.
3. 2022–2023 – Annual growth with totals of 19.37p and 20.34p.
4. June 2024 – Capital Markets Event announces 5% growth for FY2024 and 2% thereafter, plus share buybacks.
5. 2025 – Interim (6.12p) and final (15.67p) paid; total 21.79p (2% growth).
6. 2026 (expected) – Ex-dividend dates set for 23 April (final) and 20 August (interim); payment dates 4 June and 25 September.

What Is Certain and Uncertain About Legal & General’s Dividend?

What Does Legal & General’s Dividend Policy Mean for Investors?

Legal & General is a FTSE 100 life insurance and investment company. Its dividend has historically been a key attraction for income investors. The 2020 suspension was a sector‑wide response to regulatory uncertainty; the swift reinstatement in 2021 demonstrated a strong capital position. The June 2024 Capital Markets Event signalled confidence with a specific growth target, more concrete than the previous language. Investors may compare LGEN’s yield with peers such as Aviva and M&G, and should consider the payout ratio for sustainability. You can also learn How Much Can You Earn Before Paying Tax – UK 2024/25 Allowance Guide to understand how dividend income is taxed.

Where Does the Information on Legal & General’s Dividend Come From?

“The Board intends to grow the dividend per share by 5% for full year 2024, and by 2% thereafter.”

Legal & General Group, Capital Markets Event June 2024, official dividend page

“Legal & General’s annualised dividend payout is 21.7900.”

UK Investing.com (data as of snapshot)

“Next ex-dividend date: 23 April 2026. Pay date: 4 June 2026.”

Legal & General investor pages

Additional historical data is available on Fidelity International’s dividend history page.

What’s Next for Legal & General’s Dividend?

Investors should monitor Legal & General’s investor relations page for FY2025 full-year results (expected early 2026) to confirm the 2026 interim dividend. The official website will also provide updates on any further buyback announcements. The dividend policy of 2% annual growth, combined with capital returns, is likely to remain the framework for the next few years. For those exploring broader income strategies, see How to Make Money from Home – Legit UK Ways for Beginners.

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