Stock Analysis

Wecon Holdings (HKG:1793) Is Due To Pay A Dividend Of HK$0.012

SEHK:1793
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Wecon Holdings Limited (HKG:1793) has announced that it will pay a dividend of HK$0.012 per share on the 19th of September. Based on this payment, the dividend yield will be 6.0%, which is fairly typical for the industry.

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Wecon Holdings Doesn't Earn Enough To Cover Its Payments

While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Wecon Holdings' earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.

Looking forward, EPS could fall by 33.4% 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 102%, which is definitely a bit high to be sustainable going forward.

historic-dividend
SEHK:1793 Historic Dividend July 22nd 2022

Wecon Holdings' 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 HK$0.014 in 2019, and the most recent fiscal year payment was HK$0.012. The dividend has shrunk at around 5.0% a year during that period. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.

Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky

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. Wecon Holdings' EPS has fallen by approximately 33% per year during the past three years. This steep decline can indicate that the business is going through a tough time, which could constrain its ability to pay a larger dividend each year in the future.

In Summary

In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Wecon Holdings' payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The company is generating plenty of cash, which could maintain the dividend for a while, but the track record hasn't been great. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've identified 3 warning signs for Wecon Holdings (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that you should be aware of before investing. Is Wecon Holdings 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.