MODEC, Inc. (TSE:6269) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 10th of September to ¥60.00. This takes the annual payment to 2.4% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.
MODEC's Future Dividend Projections Appear Well Covered By Earnings
We like a dividend to be consistent over the long term, so checking whether it is sustainable is important. However, prior to this announcement, MODEC's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 1.3%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 23%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
Check out our latest analysis for MODEC
Dividend Volatility
The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. Since 2015, the dividend has gone from ¥32.50 total annually to ¥120.00. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 14% over that duration. MODEC 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.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
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. MODEC has impressed us by growing EPS at 57% per year over the past five years. A low payout ratio gives the company a lot of flexibility, and growing earnings also make it very easy for it to grow the dividend.
We Really Like MODEC's Dividend
Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. As an example, we've identified 2 warning signs for MODEC that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
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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.