Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (HIO) Dividend
Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (HIO) currently pays a dividend yield of 13.25%, distributing $0.43 per share annually ($0.04 per month). The company operates in the Financial Services sector.
HIO dividend at a glance
| Dividend Yield | 13.25% |
|---|---|
| Annual Dividend | $0.43 per share |
| Per Payment | $0.04 |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly |
| Payments per Year | 12 |
| Next Ex-Dividend Date | October 23, 2026 |
| Next Payment Date | October 30, 2026 |
| Payout Ratio | 176% |
| Sector | Financial Services |
| Implied Share Price (from yield) | $3.26 |
What HIO pays on a $10,000 investment
At a 13.25% yield, $10,000 invested in HIO generates about $1,325.00 per year, or roughly $110.42 every month. Share counts below use an implied price of $3.26, derived from the $0.43 annual dividend and the 13.25% yield.
| Amount Invested | Approx. Shares | Annual Dividend Income | Income per Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 306.7 | $132.50 | $11.04 |
| $5,000 | 1,533.6 | $662.50 | $55.21 |
| $10,000 | 3,067.1 | $1,325.00 | $110.42 |
| $25,000 | 7,667.8 | $3,312.50 | $276.04 |
| $100,000 | 30,671.3 | $13,250.00 | $1,104.17 |
These figures assume the dividend and share price stay where they are today. They do not account for taxes, dividend cuts, price movement, or reinvestment. If you reinvest instead of taking the cash, the share count grows each month — see how the dividend snowball compounds.
HIO dividend payment schedule
HIO pays on a monthly schedule — 12 payments a year. The next confirmed ex-dividend date is October 23, 2026, with payment on October 30, 2026. Later rows are projected forward at the same interval and will shift when Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. declares each dividend.
| Ex-Dividend Date | Payment Date | Amount per Share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 23, 2026 | October 30, 2026 | $0.04 | Confirmed |
| November 23, 2026 | November 30, 2026 | $0.04 | Projected |
| December 23, 2026 | December 30, 2026 | $0.04 | Projected |
| January 23, 2027 | January 30, 2027 | $0.04 | Projected |
| February 23, 2027 | March 2, 2027 | $0.04 | Projected |
| March 23, 2027 | March 30, 2027 | $0.04 | Projected |
To collect a HIO dividend you must own the shares before the ex-dividend date. Buy on the ex-date itself and the previous owner keeps that payment. Read how ex-dividend, record, and payment dates fit together.
How HIO's dividend compares
Across the 1000 dividend stocks and ETFs DivTrkr tracks, the median yield is 3.57%. HIO's 13.25% is 9.68 percentage points above that median, ranking 185th of 1000 by yield.
Within Financial Services, where we track 157 names, the median yield is 9.52% — putting HIO above its sector. A yield well above the sector norm is worth a second look: it can signal a depressed share price rather than a generous payout.
What the numbers mean
HIO pays out roughly 176% of its earnings as dividends. That is a high payout ratio. The dividend is consuming most of reported earnings, which is normal for REITs and some funds but a caution flag elsewhere.
HIO pays monthly, which suits investors who want dividend income to line up with monthly living expenses rather than arriving in quarterly lumps.
Whether these payments are taxed at the lower qualified rate or as ordinary income depends on how long you hold the shares and what kind of company pays them. See the qualified vs. ordinary dividend rules.
HIO dividend FAQ
When is the next HIO ex-dividend date?
The next HIO ex-dividend date is October 23, 2026, with the payment scheduled for October 30, 2026. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive that payment.
What is HIO's dividend yield?
HIO currently yields 13.25%, based on $0.43 in dividends per share over the past year.
How often does HIO pay dividends?
HIO pays monthly, which works out to 12 payments per year of about $0.04 per share.
How much dividend income would $10,000 of HIO generate?
At the current 13.25% yield, $10,000 invested in HIO would produce roughly $1,325.00 per year, or about $110.42 per month, before taxes and assuming the dividend holds.
Is HIO a Dividend Aristocrat?
No. HIO is not currently on the Dividend Aristocrat or Dividend King list, which require 25 and 50 consecutive years of dividend increases respectively.
HIO dividend history
DivTrkr holds 387 recorded HIO dividend payments going back to 1993 and +1.8% a year of growth over the last five complete years. See the full HIO dividend history — every payment, annual totals and growth by year.
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Track HIO dividends free with DivTrkr — see exactly what your own position pays, and when. Also browse the full dividend calendar or the A–Z list of dividend stocks.