Surge Energy Inc. (TSE:SGY) will increase its dividend on the 15th of August to CA$0.043, which is 7.5% higher than last year's payment from the same period of CA$0.04. This will take the dividend yield to an attractive 6.8%, providing a nice boost to shareholder returns.
View our latest analysis for Surge Energy
Surge Energy Might Find It Hard To Continue The Dividend
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Surge Energy is not generating a profit, but its free cash flows easily cover the dividend, leaving plenty for reinvestment in the business. In general, cash flows are more important than the more traditional measures of profit so we feel pretty comfortable with the dividend at this level.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to fall by 43.0%. This means that the company won't turn a profit over the next year, but with healthy cash flows at the moment the dividend could still be okay to continue.
Dividend Volatility
The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. The annual payment during the last 10 years was CA$3.57 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CA$0.48. The dividend has fallen 87% over that period. Declining dividends isn't generally what we look for as they can indicate that the company is running into some challenges.
The Company Could Face Some Challenges Growing The Dividend
Dividends have been going in the wrong direction, so we definitely want to see a different trend in the earnings per share. We are encouraged to see that Surge Energy has grown earnings per share at 45% per year over the past five years. The company hasn't been turning a profit, but it running in the right direction. If the company can turn a profit relatively soon, we can see this becoming a reliable income stock.
In Summary
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Surge Energy will make a great income stock. The company is generating plenty of cash, which could maintain the dividend for a while, but the track record hasn't been great. We don't think Surge Energy is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. To that end, Surge Energy has 3 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about. Is Surge Energy not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.
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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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About TSX:SGY
Surge Energy
Explores, develops, and produces oil and gas in western Canada.
Good value with adequate balance sheet.
