The board of Madison Pacific Properties Inc. (TSE:MPC) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 4th of September, with investors receiving CA$0.0525 per share. This means the annual payment is 2.0% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.
See our latest analysis for Madison Pacific Properties
Madison Pacific Properties Might Find It Hard To Continue The Dividend
While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Even in the absence of profits, Madison Pacific Properties is paying a dividend. The company is also yet to generate cash flow, so the dividend sustainability is definitely questionable.
Recent, EPS has fallen by 21.7%, so this could continue over the next year. This means the company will be unprofitable and managers could face the tough choice between continuing to pay the dividend or taking pressure off the balance sheet.
Madison Pacific Properties Has A Solid Track Record
Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The payments haven't really changed that much since 10 years ago. Slow and steady dividend growth might not sound that exciting, but dividends have been stable for ten years, which we think makes this a fairly attractive offer.
The Dividend Has Limited Growth Potential
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. However, things aren't all that rosy. Madison Pacific Properties' earnings per share has shrunk at 22% a year over the past five years. Dividend payments are likely to come under some pressure unless EPS can pull out of the nosedive it is in.
Madison Pacific Properties' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Madison Pacific Properties' 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. We don't think Madison Pacific Properties is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. 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 Madison Pacific Properties that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield 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:MPC
Madison Pacific Properties
Engages in owning, developing, and managing real estate properties in Canada.
Slight unattractive dividend payer.