Menicon Co., Ltd.'s (TSE:7780) investors are due to receive a payment of ¥25.00 per share on 26th of June. Based on this payment, the dividend yield on the company's stock will be 1.5%, which is an attractive boost to shareholder returns.
View our latest analysis for Menicon
Menicon's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions
We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. Menicon is quite easily earning enough to cover the dividend, however it is being let down by weak cash flows. We think that cash flows should take priority over earnings, so this is definitely a worry for the dividend going forward.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 80.8%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 24% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
Menicon Doesn't Have A Long Payment History
Menicon's dividend has been pretty stable for a little while now, but we will continue to be cautious until it has been demonstrated for a few more years. Since 2016, the annual payment back then was ¥8.00, compared to the most recent full-year payment of ¥25.00. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 15% over that duration. The dividend has been growing rapidly, however with such a short payment history we can't know for sure if payment can continue to grow over the long term, so caution may be warranted.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Menicon has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 14% per annum. Menicon definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio.
Our Thoughts On Menicon's Dividend
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Menicon's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. 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 example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Menicon that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. 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.
About TSE:7780
Undervalued with adequate balance sheet.
