Wynnstay Group Plc's (LON:WYN) investors are due to receive a payment of £0.057 per share on 31st of October. This will take the annual payment to 4.8% of the stock price, which is above what most companies in the industry pay.
Estimates Indicate Wynnstay Group's Could Struggle to Maintain Dividend Payments In The Future
Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Before making this announcement, the company's dividend was much higher than its earnings. Without profits and cash flows increasing, it would be difficult for the company to continue paying the dividend at this level.
Looking forward, EPS could fall by 12.5% if the company can't turn things around from the last few years. If the dividend continues along the path it has been on recently, the payout ratio in 12 months could be 131%, which is definitely a bit high to be sustainable going forward.
Check out our latest analysis for Wynnstay Group
Wynnstay Group Has A Solid Track Record
The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The annual payment during the last 10 years was £0.102 in 2015, and the most recent fiscal year payment was £0.175. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.5% a year over that time. The growth of the dividend has been pretty reliable, so we think this can offer investors some nice additional income in their portfolio.
The Dividend Has Limited Growth Potential
Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Unfortunately things aren't as good as they seem. Over the past five years, it looks as though Wynnstay Group's EPS has declined at around 12% 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.
The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable
In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Wynnstay Group's payments are rock solid. Although they have been consistent in the past, we think the payments are a little high to be sustained. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. To that end, Wynnstay Group has 3 warning signs (and 2 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about. Is Wynnstay Group not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top 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.