Key takeaways:

• Financials, including real estate names, feel the effects of the banking blow-up in March

• Vanguard ETFs trade ex-dividend at the start of April

The story that defined March was the global banking blow-up that saw a host of names become casualties amid a rush on deposits. All the while, central banks held their nerves to continue hiking interest rates, resulting in plenty of action. Let take a look at the major movers from the month, and which stocks will soon be trading ex-dividend.

Major Movers in March

1. IntelliHR (ASX: IHR) - up 110.9%

People management platform IntelliHR made headlines in March, with the company the subject of a tit-for-tat takeover battle. After a series of initial bids, and the company entering into a Transaction Implementation Deed with Access Workspaces, a wholly-owned subsidiary of British software group TAG, it is now leaning towards a different bid. 

The company independent board committee believes an upgraded 22 cents per share on-market takeover bid from Humanforce represents a superior proposal, largely owing to the fact that it is a cash offer immediately available to shareholders. IntelliHR Transaction Implementation Deed with TAG contains a matching rights procedure, which it is now invoking, leaving the door open for further action to follow.

2. Bellerophon Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BLPH) - up 316.8%

Micro biotech Bellerophon Therapeutics enjoyed a remarkable month, with the clinical stage company building on its strong start to the year. Back in January the company announced a licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of INOpulse, a device designed to be portable for use by ambulatory patients, with Baylor BioSciences. 

That deal involved a licensing payment of US$6 million, with the deadline for that payment fast approaching. However, it appears the company success in bringing a life sciences-focused institutional investor on board its register as part of a capital raise spurred strong interest in the stock throughout March.

Honourable Mentions:

• Besra Gold (ASX: BEZ) - up 275.0%

• Mindax (ASX: MDX) - up 140.0%

• Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) - up 100.0%

• Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) - up 90.1%

• US Xpress Enterprises (NYSE: USX) - up 280.9%

• Unicycive Therapeutics (NASDAQ: UNCY) - up 261.5%

• Provention Bio (NASDAQ: PRVB) - up 191.7%

• Reata Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RETA) - up 188.8%

52-Week Highs

1. Telstra (ASX: TLS) - up 1.6% in March

Back in favour, the nation largest telecommunications provider is trading at a multi-year high. It follows a period of relative stability for the company, with pricing in the mobile market showing signs of rising, which contrasts the price battle witnessed in recent times. Furthermore, Telstra has increased its dividend on two straight occasions, making some effort to restore its status as a reliable dividend stock.

2. United Malt Group (ASX: UMG) - up 31.8% in March

Takeover news is helping United Malt Group chart new highs. The malster, which is part of the ASX 200 index, received a $1.5 billion takeover bid from Malteries Soufflet. In response, United Malt granted its French suitor the opportunity to conduct due diligence on an exclusive basis. The bid valued the company at a premium of 45% versus the last trading price prior to the offer, which follows a series of earlier bids that were knocked back.

3. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) - up 6.7% in March

With momentum behind it, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals hit an all-time high after another round of broker upgrades. The company is considered a leading biotech player when it comes to life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Over the years, it has developed nine FDA-approved treatments, while it currently boasts numerous product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in its laboratories. 

Other Highs:

• Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company (ASX: SOL) - up 2.4% 

• Seagen (NASDAQ: SGEN) - up 13.0% 

• Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ) - up 6.8% 

• Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) - up 7.2% 

• The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) - up 6.3% 

• Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) - up 6.2% 

52-Week Lows

1. Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW) - down 17.6% in March

Real estate investment trusts have been crushed across the course of the last year, and March saw a few of these names set fresh lows. Rising funding costs and concerns about an economic downturn have weighed on highly-leveraged real estate trusts, particularly with economists expecting more rate hikes to follow in overseas markets. Those rate hikes have already led to a downturn in the property market, which some investors expect to hit REITs in due course.

2. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) - down 17.5% in March

Caught up in the drama of the banking collapses across the US and Europe, Bank of America shares, not to mention a host of other financials, recently traded at a yearly low. As investors digest the impact of rising interest rates, including the prospect of a recession, even large-cap US bank stocks faced pressure in light of concerns contagion could create issues for the broader financial system.

3. British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) - down 7.3% in March

Shares in British American Tobacco were recently trading at a 52-week low, which follows the company decision to pause its share buyback activity. At the same time, the company exposure to rising interest rates has weighed on its outlook, while ESG concerns are another potential headwind for the firm given its status as a sin industry on account of its tobacco exposure.

Other Lows:

• Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (ASX: CQE) - down 7.1%

• Centuria Office (ASX: COF) - down 12.4% 

• CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) - down 10.6% 

• Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) - down 5.2% 

• Kohl Corporation (NYSE: KSS) - down 18.4% 

Upcoming Dividends

1. Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company (ASX: SOL) | Ex-dividend: Apr 19, 2023 | Amount: $0.36 per share | Franking: 100% | Pay Date: May 12, 2023 

Considered one of the most reliable dividend shares on the ASX, having paid a dividend every year since listing 120 years ago, and also lifting its dividend across each of the last 23 years, Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company has come to the party again. Buoyed by its stake in names like New Hope, the investment company will pay shareholders a fully-franked interim dividend of 36 cents per share.

2. New Hope (ASX: NHC) | Ex-dividend: Apr 17, 2023 | Amount: $0.40 per share | Franking: 100% | Pay Date: May 3, 2023

Coal miner New Hope unveiled a record profit for the half ending January 31st, with the company achieving a net profit after tax of $669 million, up 103% versus the prior corresponding period. That result came on the back of a surge in thermal coal prices as the global energy mix shifted back to fossil fuels. On the back of the result, New Hope declared an interim dividend of 30 cents per share, as well as a special dividend of 10 cents per share, both payable early May.

3. Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) | Ex-dividend: Apr 3, 2023 | Amount: $0.2551 per share | Franking: TBC | Pay Date: Apr 20, 2023

One of the most popular ETFs within the Selfwealth community, the Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF provides unitholders with quarterly distributions. The ETF provides low-cost access to a range of sector funds, offering broad diversification across multiple asset classes, albeit mainly growth assets. At the time of writing, Vanguard has indicated an estimated dividend of 25.51 cents per share.

4. JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) | Ex-dividend: Apr 5, 2023 | Amount: US$1 per share | Franking: N/A | Pay Date: Apr 30, 2023

One of America largest banking institutions, JPMorgan will trade ex-dividend in early April before paying a US$1 per share dividend at the end of the month. The quarterly dividend is consistent with the bank past four distributions. JPMorgan will announce its most recent quarterly results mid April, where investors will likely scrutinise the bank provisions for impairments, and whether it was a beneficiary of deposits amid the flight out of regional banks in the US.

Other Dividends:

• Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) - TBC dividend; franking: TBC; ex-div: Apr 3, 2023; payment: Apr 20, 2023

• Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) - TBC dividend; franking: TBC; ex-div: Apr 3, 2023; payment: Apr 20, 2023

• Vanguard Australian High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) - TBC dividend; franking: TBC; ex-div: Apr 3, 2023; payment: Apr 20, 2023

• Brickworks (ASX: BKW) - $0.23 per share; franking: 100%; ex-div: Apr 6, 2023; payment: May 2, 2023

• Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) - US$0.39 dividend; ex-div: Apr 4, 2023; payment: Apr 26, 2023

• Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) - US$0.29 dividend; ex-div: Apr 4, 2023; payment: Apr 26, 2023

• American Express (NYSE: AXP) - US$0.60 dividend; ex-div: Apr 5, 2023; payment: May 10, 2023

• Mastercard (NYSE: MA) - US$0.57 dividend; ex-div: Apr 5, 2023; payment: May 9, 2023

• UBS Group (NYSE: UBS) - US$0.179 dividend; ex-div: Apr 12, 2023; payment: Apr 14, 2023

• AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) - US$1.48 dividend; ex-div: Apr 13, 2023; payment: Apr 15, 2023