Stock Analysis
Mani, Inc. (TSE:7730) will increase its dividend on the 6th of November to ¥23.00, which is 9.5% higher than last year's payment from the same period of ¥21.00. This takes the dividend yield to 1.8%, which shareholders will be pleased with.
View our latest analysis for Mani
Mani's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings
We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. Based on the last dividend, Mani is earning enough to cover the payment, but then it makes up 178% of cash flows. The company might be more focused on returning cash to shareholders, but paying out this much of its cash flow could expose the dividend to being cut in the future.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 7.4%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 60% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
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 ¥6.89, compared to the most recent full-year payment of ¥37.00. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 18% per annum over that time. Mani 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.
Mani May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Earnings have grown at around 2.1% a year for the past five years, which isn't massive but still better than seeing them shrink. The company has been growing at a pretty soft 2.1% per annum, and is paying out quite a lot of its earnings to shareholders. This isn't bad in itself, but unless earnings growth pick up we wouldn't expect dividends to grow either.
In Summary
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Mani will make a great income stock. While the low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.
It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For instance, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Mani that investors should take into consideration. 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.
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About TSE:7730
Mani
Engages in the manufacture and distribution of medical devices and dental instruments in Japan and internationally.