Icom Incorporated (TSE:6820) will pay a dividend of ¥25.00 on the 4th of December. This means that the annual payment will be 2.9% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry.
View our latest analysis for Icom
Icom's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
We like to see a healthy dividend yield, but that is only helpful to us if the payment can continue. Prior to this announcement, Icom's dividend was only 43% of earnings, however it was paying out 525% of free 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.
Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 11.6% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 42% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.
Dividend Volatility
The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from ¥30.00 total annually to ¥79.00. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 10% over that duration. Dividends have grown rapidly over this time, but with cuts in the past we are not certain that this stock will be a reliable source of income in the future.
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. We are encouraged to see that Icom has grown earnings per share at 12% 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.
Our Thoughts On Icom's Dividend
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Icom's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. While Icom is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. We don't think Icom is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Icom 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.
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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:6820
Icom
Manufactures and sells telecommunications equipment to individual and corporate customers primarily in Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, Australia, China, and Vietnam.
Flawless balance sheet second-rate dividend payer.
