Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of CA$0.40

Laurentian Bank of Canada's (TSE:LB) investors are due to receive a payment of CA$0.40 per share on 1st of August. This means the dividend yield will be fairly typical at 3.6%.

Check out our latest analysis for Laurentian Bank of Canada

Laurentian Bank of Canada's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Laurentian Bank of Canada's earnings. This indicates that a lot of the earnings are being reinvested into the business, with the aim of fueling growth.

The next year is set to see EPS grow by 11.3%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 40% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

Dividend Volatility

While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was CA$1.44 in 2011, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CA$1.60. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 1.1% a year over that time. Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent.

The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited

Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. However, Laurentian Bank of Canada's EPS was effectively flat over the past five years, which could stop the company from paying more every year. Laurentian Bank of Canada is struggling to find viable investments, so it is returning more to shareholders. This could mean the dividend doesn't have the growth potential we look for going into the future.

Our Thoughts On Laurentian Bank of Canada's Dividend

Overall, a consistent dividend is a good thing, and we think that Laurentian Bank of Canada has the ability to continue this into the future. The payout ratio looks good, but unfortunately the company's dividend track record isn't stellar. Taking all of this into consideration, the dividend looks viable moving forward, but investors should be mindful that the company has pushed the boundaries of sustainability in the past and may do so again.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Laurentian Bank of Canada that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of strong dividend payers.

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