SmarterDividends
AEF

abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc.

AEF

Financial Services · Asset Management · Stock · quarterly payer

$8.63

Undervalued · +162% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

12.05%

Annual Dividend

$1.04

Payout Ratio

17%

5-Yr Growth

28.2%

Ex-Date

Sep 22, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about AEF's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 18, 2026, abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) has a forward dividend yield of 12.05%, based on an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and a share price of $8.63.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is C (63 out of 100), which rates the dividend as borderline.
  • AEF last cut its regular dividend in 2023.
  • AEF's most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 22, 2026, for a dividend of $0.26 per share.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF pays out 17% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • AEF's dividend has grown at an average rate of 28.2% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF's 12.05% yield is 51% above its five-year average yield of 8.00%.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for AEF is $22.61 per share, 162% above the $8.63 share price, so AEF screens as undervalued.
  • abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "AEF Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 18, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/AEF

Summary

As of Oct 18, 2026, abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) yields 12.05% ($1.04 a year per share) and has a dividend safety grade of C (63/100).

Is AEF a good dividend stock?

Yes, with caveats

abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 12.05% ($1.04/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying.

Advantages

  • Comfortable payout ratio (17%)
  • Strong 28.2% 5-yr dividend growth

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2023
  • Very high yield can signal elevated risk

Key Data

Dividend Yield
12.05%
Payout Ratio
17%
Annual Dividend
$1.04
5-Yr Avg Growth
28.2%
Ex-Dividend Date
Sep 22, 2026
Years of Growth
1
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
1.07
Market Cap
$350.4M
P/E Ratio
1.9
5-Yr Total Return
9%
52-Week Range
$6.41 – $10.14
Dividend Safety
C · 63/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2023)

AEF dividend changes

abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) pays a variable dividend: across the 102 payments on record since 1989, 32 were higher than the one before and 32 lower. The latest change was up 13.0% to $0.260 per share, going ex-dividend on Sep 22, 2026.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Sep 22, 2026Higher$0.230 → $0.260+13.0%
Jun 23, 2026Higher$0.210 → $0.230+9.5%
Mar 24, 2026Higher$0.180 → $0.210+16.7%
Dec 31, 2025Higher$0.170 → $0.180+5.9%
Sep 23, 2025Higher$0.150 → $0.170+13.3%
Mar 25, 2025Higher$0.100 → $0.150+50.0%
Jun 21, 2024Higher$0.0900 → $0.100+11.1%
Dec 28, 2023Lower$0.100 → $0.0900−10.0%
Sep 22, 2022Lower$0.110 → $0.100−9.1%
Jun 21, 2022Lower$0.140 → $0.110−21.4%
Mar 23, 2022Lower$0.150 → $0.140−6.7%
Dec 29, 2021Lower$0.160 → $0.150−6.3%
Every AEF payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
AEF ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Sep 22, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →AEF dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AEF a good dividend stock?

Yes, with caveats. abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 12.05% ($1.04/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying.

Is AEF undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, AEF's fair value is about $22.61 versus a $8.63 share price — so it looks undervalued (+162% vs. fair value).

Is AEF's dividend safe?

AEF has a dividend-safety grade of C (63/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 1-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2023, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is AEF's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for AEF is about $22.61 per share, roughly 162% above the current $8.63 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is AEF a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data AEF screens as "yes, with caveats" and undervalued. abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (AEF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 12.05% ($1.04/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will AEF cut its dividend?

AEF earns a dividend-safety grade of C (63/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2023). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does AEF pay a dividend?

Yes. abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $1.04 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 12.05%.

What is AEF's dividend yield?

As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF's forward dividend yield is 12.05%, based on a $1.04 annual dividend and a $8.63 share price.

What is AEF's dividend per share?

As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF pays $1.04 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is AEF's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF's payout ratio is 17% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has AEF grown its dividend?

As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

When is the next AEF ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 18, 2026, AEF's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Sep 22, 2026, for $0.26 per share.

AEF Dividend News

AEF
IncreaseAEF·Sep 23, 2026

abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund Raises Quarterly Dividend

AEF increased its quarterly dividend by 13.04% to $0.26 per share, producing a 10.35% forward annual yield at the stated share price.

AEF
IncreaseAEF·Sep 21, 2026

abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund Raises Distribution

AEF increased its quarterly distribution by 9.52% to $0.23 per share, with an ex-dividend date of June 23, 2026.

Income Calculator

At $1.04 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$26.00
Annual$104.00
Monthly avg$8.67

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