The board of Grainger plc (LON:GRI) has announced that it will pay a dividend of UK£0.033 per share on the 14th of February. The dividend yield is 1.6% based on this payment, which is a little bit low compared to the other companies in the industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Grainger
Grainger's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions
It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. However, Grainger's earnings easily cover the dividend. This means that most of its earnings are being retained to grow the business.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 38.0%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 27% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.
Dividend Volatility
Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was UK£0.017 in 2011, and the most recent fiscal year payment was UK£0.051. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 12% over that duration. Grainger has grown distributions at a rapid rate despite cutting the dividend at least once in the past. Companies that cut once often cut again, so we would be cautious about buying this stock solely for the dividend income.
The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. In the last five years, Grainger's earnings per share has shrunk at approximately 3.8% per annum. If earnings continue declining, the company may have to make the difficult choice of reducing the dividend or even stopping it completely - the opposite of dividend growth. It's not all bad news though, as the earnings are predicted to rise over the next 12 months - we would just be a bit cautious until this can turn into a longer term trend.
In Summary
Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. The payments haven't been particularly stable and we don't see huge growth potential, but with the dividend well covered by cash flows it could prove to be reliable over the short term. We don't think Grainger 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 example, we've identified 4 warning signs for Grainger (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a solid dividend.
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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.
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About LSE:GRI
Grainger
Owns, operates, and manages private rental homes in the United Kingdom.
Average dividend payer with moderate growth potential.
