Will Group, Inc.'s (TSE:6089) investors are due to receive a payment of ¥44.00 per share on 24th of June. This makes the dividend yield 4.4%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.
See our latest analysis for Will Group
Will Group's Projected Earnings Seem Likely To Cover Future Distributions
Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Based on the last dividend, Will Group is earning enough to cover the payment, but then it makes up 345% of cash flows. This signals that the company is more focused on returning cash flow to shareholders, but it could mean that the dividend is exposed to cuts in the future.
EPS is set to fall by 3.9% over the next 12 months if recent trends continue. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could be 67%, which we consider to be quite comfortable, with most of the company's earnings left over to grow the business in the future.
Dividend Volatility
The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was ¥3.25, compared to the most recent full-year payment of ¥44.00. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 30% a year over that time. Will Group 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.
Will Group May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Over the past five years, it looks as though Will Group's EPS has declined at around 3.9% a year. 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.
Will Group's Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable
Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. While the low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock.
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. For instance, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Will Group that investors should take into consideration. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield 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.
About TSE:6089
Will Group
Provides human resource services in Japan and internationally.
Excellent balance sheet average dividend payer.