Gibson Energy (TSE:GEI) Has Re-Affirmed Its Dividend Of CA$0.35

Gibson Energy Inc. (TSE:GEI) will pay a dividend of CA$0.35 on the 15th of October. This means the annual payment is 6.0% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.

View our latest analysis for Gibson Energy

Gibson Energy Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Before making this announcement, the company's dividend was much higher than its earnings. It will be difficult to sustain this level of payout so we wouldn't be confident about this continuing.

Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 57.6% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could reach 138%, which probably can't continue putting some pressure on the balance sheet.

Gibson Energy Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from CA$0.96 in 2011 to the most recent annual payment of CA$1.40. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 3.8% a year over that time. Although we can't deny that the dividend has been remarkably stable in the past, the growth has been pretty muted.

Gibson Energy's Dividend Might Lack Growth

Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. We are encouraged to see that Gibson Energy has grown earnings per share at 69% per year over the past five years. EPS has been growing well, but Gibson Energy has been paying out a massive proportion of its earnings, which can make the dividend tough to maintain.

The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable

In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Gibson Energy's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. Although they have been consistent in the past, we think the payments are a little high to be sustained. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've identified 5 warning signs for Gibson Energy (2 are a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a solid dividend.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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