AltaGas Ltd. (TSE:ALA) has announced that it will pay a dividend of CA$0.2975 per share on the 28th of June. This takes the annual payment to 3.9% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.
View our latest analysis for AltaGas
AltaGas' Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
We like to see a healthy dividend yield, but that is only helpful to us if the payment can continue. Prior to this announcement, AltaGas' dividend was only 54% of earnings, however it was paying out 510% of free cash flows. The company might be more focused on returning cash to shareholders, but paying out this much of its cash flow could expose the dividend to being cut in the future.
Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 19.3% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 45% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.
Dividend Volatility
The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The dividend has gone from an annual total of CA$1.50 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of CA$1.19. The dividend has shrunk at around 2.3% a year during that period. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. AltaGas has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 14% per annum. While on an earnings basis, this company looks appealing as an income stock, the cash payout ratio still makes us cautious.
Our Thoughts On AltaGas' Dividend
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think AltaGas will make a great income stock. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We don't think AltaGas 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. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. To that end, AltaGas has 5 warning signs (and 1 which is concerning) we think you should know about. 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.
About TSX:ALA
Good value slight.
