Stock Analysis

Mensch und Maschine Software's (ETR:MUM) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's

XTRA:MUM
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Mensch und Maschine Software SE (ETR:MUM) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 6th of June to €1.65. This makes the dividend yield 3.0%, which is above the industry average.

Check out our latest analysis for Mensch und Maschine Software

Mensch und Maschine Software's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Prior to this announcement, Mensch und Maschine Software's dividend made up quite a large proportion of earnings but only 62% 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.

The next year is set to see EPS grow by 55.3%. Assuming the dividend continues along the course it has been charting recently, our estimates show the payout ratio being 73% which brings it into quite a comfortable range.

historic-dividend
XTRA:MUM Historic Dividend May 3rd 2024

Mensch und Maschine Software Has A Solid Track Record

The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was €0.20, compared to the most recent full-year payment of €1.65. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 23% over that duration. We can see that payments have shown some very nice upward momentum without faltering, which provides some reassurance that future payments will also be reliable.

Dividend Growth Could Be Constrained

The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. We are encouraged to see that Mensch und Maschine Software has grown earnings per share at 17% per year over the past five years. Recently, the company has been able to grow earnings at a decent rate, but with the payout ratio on the higher end we don't think the dividend has many prospects for growth.

Our Thoughts On Mensch und Maschine Software's Dividend

In summary, it's great to see that the company can raise the dividend and keep it in a sustainable range. The dividend is easily covered by cash flows and has a good track record, but we think the payout ratio might be a bit high. Taking all of this into consideration, the dividend looks viable moving forward, but investors should be mindful that the company has pushed the boundaries of sustainability in the past and may do so again.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Mensch und Maschine Software that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. 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.