Guizhou Panjiang Refined CoalLtd (SHSE:600395) Is Paying Out Less In Dividends Than Last Year

Guizhou Panjiang Refined Coal Co.,Ltd. (SHSE:600395) is reducing its dividend from last year's comparable payment to CN¥0.28 on the 14th of August. This means that the annual payment is 4.8% of the current stock price, which is lower than what the rest of the industry is paying.

See our latest analysis for Guizhou Panjiang Refined CoalLtd

Guizhou Panjiang Refined CoalLtd Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning

If it is predictable over a long period, even low dividend yields can be attractive. Based on the last payment, earnings were actually smaller than the dividend, and the company was actually spending more cash than it was making. Paying out such a large dividend compared to earnings while also not generating free cash flows is a major warning sign for the sustainability of the dividend as these levels are certainly a bit high.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 34.6%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could reach 119%, which probably can't continue without putting some pressure on the balance sheet.

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 CN¥0.30 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CN¥0.28. Payments have been decreasing at a very slow pace in this time period. Generally, we don't like to see a dividend that has been declining over time as this can degrade shareholders' returns and indicate that the company may be running into problems.

Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Over the past five years, it looks as though Guizhou Panjiang Refined CoalLtd's EPS has declined at around 20% a year. Dividend payments are likely to come under some pressure unless EPS can pull out of the nosedive it is in. On the bright side, earnings are predicted to gain some ground over the next year, but until this turns into a pattern we wouldn't be feeling too comfortable.

Guizhou Panjiang Refined CoalLtd's Dividend Doesn't Look Great

To sum up, we don't like when dividends are cut, but in this case the dividend may have been too high to begin with. The company's earnings aren't high enough to be making such big distributions, and it isn't backed up by strong growth or consistency either. Overall, the dividend is not reliable enough to make this a good income stock.

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. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for Guizhou Panjiang Refined CoalLtd (of which 3 are a bit concerning!) you should know about. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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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.