Fujiya (TSE:2211) Will Pay A Dividend Of ¥30.00

Fujiya Co., Ltd. (TSE:2211) has announced that it will pay a dividend of ¥30.00 per share on the 25th of March. This means the annual payment will be 1.1% of the current stock price, which is lower than the industry average.

See our latest analysis for Fujiya

Fujiya's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

Even a low dividend yield can be attractive if it is sustained for years on end. Before making this announcement, Fujiya was earning enough to cover the dividend, but it wasn't generating any free cash flows. In general, we consider cash flow to be more important than earnings, so we would be cautious about relying on the sustainability of this dividend.

Over the next year, EPS could expand by 8.6% if recent trends continue. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 45% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

Dividend Volatility

Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was ¥15.00, compared to the most recent full-year payment of ¥30.00. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 7.2% over that duration. We have seen cuts in the past, so while the growth looks promising we would be a little bit cautious about its track record.

We Could See Fujiya's Dividend Growing

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Fujiya has impressed us by growing EPS at 8.6% per year over the past five years. The lack of cash flows does make us a bit cautious though, especially when it comes to the future of the dividend.

In Summary

Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We don't think Fujiya is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Now, if you want to look closer, it would be worth checking out our free research on Fujiya management tenure, salary, and performance. 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.