sydneytelstra corp ltd shares hit their highest level in six months after australias largest telecommunications provider raised its dividend and flagged further earnings growth the asxlisted company on thursday said it expects fy 2023 underlying earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortization of between 78 billion australian dollars and 80 billion australian dollars us552 billion and us566 billion the midpoint of the guidance range is broadly in line with the average analysts forecast according to data compiled by factset shares in telstra were up 175 at a408 in early trade reaching their highest level since february the stock hit a near fiveyear high in january before cooling amid the global downturn in equities telstras decision to raise its final dividend to 85 australian cents from 80 australian cents a year earlier surprised analysts who expected an unchanged payout yet the guidance appears to be a slight downgrade on telstras previous outlook since it includes a contribution from the recently acquired digicel pacific business ubs ag analysts said in a note