Hester Biosciences Limited on May 15, 2026, announced a final dividend of ₹11 per equity share for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, representing a 57.1% increase over the ₹7 per share declared in FY2025. The announcement was made following a board meeting that also cleared the company's audited financial results for the period.

Dividend Details and Yield

The recommended final dividend of ₹11 per share is subject to shareholder approval at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. At the last traded price of ₹1,970.80 on NSE, the dividend translates to a yield of approximately 0.56%. While modest in absolute yield terms, the payout marks the highest dividend declared by the company since FY2022, when it had paid ₹10 per share.

Dividend History and Trend

A review of Hester Biosciences' dividend history over the past seven years reveals a non-linear but broadly maintained payout commitment:

The FY2026 payout ends a two-year declining streak that saw dividends fall from ₹10 in FY2022 to ₹6 in FY2024. The sharp recovery to ₹11 signals improved earnings confidence at the board level. Over the eight-year period, the company has consistently maintained uninterrupted dividend payments, a notable consistency for a mid-cap biosciences firm.

Market Context and Stock Performance

Shares of Hester Biosciences surged 13.25% on the day of the announcement, closing at ₹1,970.80. The stock's 52-week range stands at ₹1,239.30 to ₹2,350.00, with the low recorded as recently as March 30, 2026, and the high on August 4, 2025. At the current price, the stock trades at roughly 83.9% above its 52-week low but remains 16.1% below its 52-week high, indicating room within its recent trading band.

The company's market capitalisation stands at ₹1,676.53 Cr, placing it firmly in the small-to-mid cap segment of the Indian pharma and biosciences space.

Valuation and Delivery Data

Hester Biosciences trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.39x, which is identical to the sector PE of 40.39x, suggesting the stock is fairly valued relative to its industry peers on an earnings multiple basis with no meaningful premium or discount at current levels.

Trading volumes on the announcement date stood at 2,551 shares, with a notably high delivery percentage of 80.24%. A delivery ratio above 80% typically indicates that a large proportion of buyers intend to hold the stock rather than square off intraday positions, pointing to conviction-based buying rather than speculative activity. Daily volatility is recorded at 2.46%.

Company Background

Hester Biosciences Limited is an Ahmedabad-based company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of veterinary vaccines and health products. The company serves both domestic and export markets across animal health segments and is listed on NSE under the symbol HESTERBIO with ISIN INE782E01017.

Investors tracking dividend income should note that the record date for the final dividend has not yet been announced and will be communicated separately ahead of the AGM.