Kitwave Group (LON:KITW) Is Increasing Its Dividend To £0.0745

Kitwave Group plc (LON:KITW) has announced that it will be increasing its periodic dividend on the 26th of April to £0.0745, which will be 10% higher than last year's comparable payment amount of £0.0675. The payment will take the dividend yield to 3.5%, which is in line with the average for the industry.

See our latest analysis for Kitwave Group

Kitwave Group Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning

We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Prior to this announcement, Kitwave Group's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.

EPS is set to fall by 59.5% over the next 12 months if recent trends continue. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could reach 113%, which could put the dividend in jeopardy if the company's earnings don't improve.

Kitwave Group's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

Looking back, the dividend has been unstable but with a relatively short history, we think it may be a bit early to draw conclusions about long term dividend sustainability. The annual payment during the last 3 years was £0.045 in 2021, and the most recent fiscal year payment was £0.112. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 36% per annum over that time. Dividends have grown rapidly over this time, but with cuts in the past we are not certain that this stock will be a reliable source of income in the future.

The Dividend Has Limited Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Over the past five years, it looks as though Kitwave Group's EPS has declined at around 60% a year. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective. Even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough.

Our Thoughts On Kitwave Group's Dividend

Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. In the past, the payments have been unstable, but over the short term the dividend could be reliable, with the company generating enough cash to cover it. We don't think Kitwave Group is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For instance, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Kitwave Group that investors should take into consideration. 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.