SinoMedia Holding (HKG:623) Has Announced That Its Dividend Will Be Reduced To HK$0.04

SinoMedia Holding Limited (HKG:623) is reducing its dividend to HK$0.04 on the 8th of July. This means that the annual payment will be 4.6% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry.

See our latest analysis for SinoMedia Holding

SinoMedia Holding's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. The last dividend was quite easily covered by SinoMedia Holding's earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.

Over the next year, EPS could expand by 16.4% if recent trends continue. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 37% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

Dividend Volatility

While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2012, the dividend has gone from CN¥0.17 to CN¥0.032. This works out to a decline of approximately 81% over that time. Generally, we don't like to see a dividend that has been declining over time as this can degrade shareholders' returns and indicate that the company may be running into problems.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Dividends have been going in the wrong direction, so we definitely want to see a different trend in the earnings per share. SinoMedia Holding has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 16% per annum. The company is paying out a lot of its cash as a dividend, but it looks okay based on the payout ratio.

SinoMedia Holding Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock

Overall, we think that SinoMedia Holding could be a great option for a dividend investment, although we would have preferred if the dividend wasn't cut this year. Reducing the amount it is paying as a dividend can protect the company's balance sheet, keeping the dividend sustainable for longer. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity.

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. As an example, we've identified 5 warning signs for SinoMedia Holding that you should be aware of before investing. 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.