Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd.'s (TSE:TVE) investors are due to receive a payment of CA$0.0125 per share on 15th of April. This payment means the dividend yield will be 4.1%, which is below the average for the industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Tamarack Valley Energy
Tamarack Valley Energy's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings
While yield is important, another factor to consider about a company's dividend is whether the current payout levels are feasible. Before this announcement, Tamarack Valley Energy was paying out 89% of earnings, but a comparatively small 72% of free cash flows. Since the dividend is just paying out cash to shareholders, we care more about the cash payout ratio from which we can see plenty is being left over for reinvestment in the business.
Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 7.6% over the next year. If recent patterns in the dividend continues, the payout ratio in 12 months could be 82% which is a bit high but can definitely be sustainable.
Tamarack Valley Energy Doesn't Have A Long Payment History
The dividend has been pretty stable looking back, but the company hasn't been paying one for very long. This makes it tough to judge how it would fare through a full economic cycle. The annual payment during the last 2 years was CA$0.0996 in 2022, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CA$0.15. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 23% a year over that time. The dividend has been growing rapidly, however with such a short payment history we can't know for sure if payment can continue to grow over the long term, so caution may be warranted.
The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited
Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. Although it's important to note that Tamarack Valley Energy's earnings per share has basically not grown from where it was five years ago, which could erode the purchasing power of the dividend over time. Earnings are not growing quickly at all, and the company is paying out most of its profit as dividends. That's fine as far as it goes, but we're less enthusiastic as this often signals that the dividend is likely to grow slower in the future.
In Summary
Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. The company is generating plenty of cash, which could maintain the dividend for a while, but the track record hasn't been great. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 4 warning signs for Tamarack Valley Energy that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Is Tamarack Valley Energy not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if Tamarack Valley Energy might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
Access Free AnalysisHave feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.
About TSX:TVE
Tamarack Valley Energy
Acquires, explores, develops, and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the Western Canadian sedimentary basin.
Proven track record and fair value.