Stock Analysis

FIH group's (LON:FIH) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's

AIM:FIH
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FIH group plc's (LON:FIH) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to £0.053 on 31st of October. This takes the dividend yield to 2.7%, which shareholders will be pleased with.

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FIH group's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. Before making this announcement, FIH group was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business.

Over the next year, EPS could expand by 4.2% if recent trends continue. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 21% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

historic-dividend
AIM:FIH Historic Dividend September 18th 2023

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 £0.11 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of £0.065. The dividend has shrunk at around 5.1% a year during that 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.

The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited

Given that dividend payments have been shrinking like a glacier in a warming world, we need to check if there are some bright spots on the horizon. Earnings has been rising at 4.2% per annum over the last five years, which admittedly is a bit slow. If FIH group is struggling to find viable investments, it always has the option to increase its payout ratio to pay more to shareholders.

Our Thoughts On FIH group's Dividend

Overall, this is a reasonable dividend, and it being raised is an added bonus. The dividend has been at reasonable levels historically, but that hasn't translated into a consistent payment. The payment isn't stellar, but it could make a decent addition to a dividend portfolio.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Just as an example, we've come across 3 warning signs for FIH group you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored. 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.