Safaricom vs EABL Shares 2026: Dividend, Yield and Profit

Updated 2 November 2026

Safaricom vs EABL shares in one line: at the 30 October 2026 closing prices, Safaricom (KSh 33.60) yields about 6.0% on its FY2026 dividend of KSh 2.00, while EABL (KSh 270.75) yields about 4.7% on its FY2026 dividend of KSh 12.70. Both trade at a similar price-to-earnings ratio of about 14. Safaricom is the bigger, cheaper-per-share income stock; Safaricom also raised its dividend faster this year (+67% against EABL’s +59%), while EABL is going through a change of controlling shareholder. Here is the full side-by-side comparison.

Updated 2 November 2026. Dividends and profit are from each company’s results announcements and AGM documents; share prices, market value and trailing ratios are S&P Global Market Intelligence data via StockAnalysis, read 2 November 2026 (closing prices of Friday 30 October 2026). Not investment advice.

Safaricom vs EABL shares: side-by-side table

Yield = latest full-year dividend ÷ 30 October closing price. Our calculation; it changes every trading day.

Which pays more dividend income per KSh 100,000?

Investing KSh 100,000 at the 30 October prices (ignoring brokerage fees) buys about 2,976 Safaricom shares or about 369 EABL shares. On the latest full-year dividends:

So on today’s prices Safaricom pays roughly KSh 1,200 more a year per KSh 100,000, before any change in share price. Past dividends are not a promise of future ones. Check other amounts with our withholding tax calculator.

Profit and the story behind each dividend

Safaricom

Group net income excluding minority interest was KSh 95.61 billion for the year to March 2026, and the total payout reached a record KSh 80.13 billion. The dividend had been stuck at KSh 1.20 for three years while Safaricom funded its Ethiopian start-up and absorbed the birr’s fall; FY2026 broke that run. Safaricom’s half-year results for the period to September 2026 are due in early November, and the FY2027 interim dividend is normally declared with them. Full details are in our Safaricom dividend history.

EABL

Net revenue rose 13% to KSh 146.0 billion and profit after tax rose 49% to KSh 18.2 billion in the year to June 2026, helped by a KSh 5.8 billion cut in debt that lowered finance costs. Diageo has agreed to sell its controlling shareholding to Asahi Group Holdings; EABL said several regulators had approved it while the Competition Authority of Kenya’s review was pending. A change of controlling shareholder can change dividend policy, so watch announcements. See our EABL dividend history for every payout and date.

Who might prefer which share?

• Smaller budgets: Safaricom’s low price per share makes it easier to buy in small, regular amounts.
• Higher current yield: on 30 October prices, Safaricom yields more.
• Payment timing: holding both spreads four dividend payments across the year (Safaricom March and September, EABL April and October).
• Concentration risk: Safaricom’s results depend heavily on M-Pesa and Ethiopia; EABL’s on beer and spirits demand, excise duty and its new controlling shareholder.

The data doesn’t make one a clear winner: their valuations are almost identical, and each has risks the other doesn’t. Compare more payers in our list of the highest dividend paying stocks in Kenya, and learn how to read the ratios in our P/E, EPS and dividend yield explainer.

How to buy Safaricom or EABL shares

1. Open a CDS account with a CMA-licensed stockbroker or investment bank.
2. Fund it by bank transfer or M-Pesa.
3. Place a buy order for SCOM or EABL at your chosen price.
4. To receive a dividend, own the shares before the ex-dividend date and keep your payment details updated with the registrar.

Step-by-step instructions are in how to buy shares on the NSE, and upcoming book closures are in our NSE dividend calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Safaricom or EABL shares?

Neither is better on every measure. At 30 October 2026 prices Safaricom yields about 6.0% and EABL about 4.7%, and both trade at about 14 times earnings. Your choice depends on budget, income needs and which risks you prefer.

How much dividend does Safaricom pay compared with EABL?

Safaricom paid KSh 2.00 a share for the year to March 2026; EABL paid KSh 12.70 a share for the year to June 2026.

When do Safaricom and EABL pay dividends?

Safaricom pays an interim around March and a final around August or September. EABL pays an interim around April and a final around late October.

Is tax deducted from Safaricom and EABL dividends?

Yes. Kenyan resident shareholders have 5% withholding tax deducted before payment.

Sources: Safaricom FY2026 results announcement and 2026 AGM documents; EABL FY2026 audited results announcement (5 August 2026) and AGM notices; S&P Global Market Intelligence data via StockAnalysis (SCOM) and (EABL), read 2 November 2026; Nairobi Securities Exchange. Not investment advice.