Here's What We Like About Medialink Group's (HKG:2230) Upcoming Dividend

Medialink Group Limited (HKG:2230) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 4 days. The ex-dividend date is two business days before a company's record date in most cases, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. It is important to be aware of the ex-dividend date because any trade on the stock needs to have been settled on or before the record date. This means that investors who purchase Medialink Group's shares on or after the 15th of December will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 16th of January.

The company's next dividend payment will be HK$0.012 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed HK$0.015 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Medialink Group has a trailing yield of 6.3% on the current stock price of HK$0.236. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Medialink Group's dividend is reliable and sustainable. As a result, readers should always check whether Medialink Group has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality.

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Medialink Group paid out more than half (51%) of its earnings last year, which is a regular payout ratio for most companies. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Medialink Group generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Luckily it paid out just 23% of its free cash flow last year.

It's positive to see that Medialink Group's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.

View our latest analysis for Medialink Group

Click here to see how much of its profit Medialink Group paid out over the last 12 months.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Medialink Group, with earnings per share up 9.2% on average over the last five years. While earnings have been growing at a credible rate, the company is paying out a majority of its earnings to shareholders. If management lifts the payout ratio further, we'd take this as a tacit signal that the company's growth prospects are slowing.

The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the past six years, Medialink Group has increased its dividend at approximately 2.2% a year on average. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders.

Final Takeaway

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Medialink Group? While earnings per share growth has been modest, Medialink Group's dividend payouts are around an average level; without a sharp change in earnings we feel that the dividend is likely somewhat sustainable. Pleasingly the company paid out a conservatively low percentage of its free cash flow. To summarise, Medialink Group looks okay on this analysis, although it doesn't appear a stand-out opportunity.

On that note, you'll want to research what risks Medialink Group is facing. To help with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Medialink Group that you should be aware of before investing in their shares.

A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.