Jacobson Pharma (HKG:2633) Is Increasing Its Dividend To HK$0.012

Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (HKG:2633) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 23rd of December to HK$0.012. This makes the dividend yield 42%, which is above the industry average.

View our latest analysis for Jacobson Pharma

Jacobson Pharma Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning

While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. However, Jacobson Pharma's earnings easily cover the dividend. This means that most of its earnings are being retained to grow the business.

Looking forward, EPS could fall by 5.9% if the company can't turn things around from the last few years. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we believe the payout ratio could reach 316%, which could put the dividend under pressure if earnings don't start to improve.

Jacobson Pharma's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

It's comforting to see that Jacobson Pharma has been paying a dividend for a number of years now, however it has been cut at least once in that time. This makes us cautious about the consistency of the dividend over a full economic cycle. Since 2016, the first annual payment was HK$0.016, compared to the most recent full-year payment of HK$0.027. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11% a year over that time. Dividends have grown rapidly over this time, but with cuts in the past we are not certain that this stock will be a reliable source of income in the future.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Come By

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. In the last five years, Jacobson Pharma's earnings per share has shrunk at approximately 5.9% per annum. If the company is making less over time, it naturally follows that it will also have to pay out less in dividends.

In Summary

In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Jacobson Pharma's payments are rock solid. In the past, the payments have been unstable, but over the short term the dividend could be reliable, with the company generating enough cash to cover it. We don't think Jacobson Pharma 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. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Jacobson Pharma that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a solid dividend.

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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