Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (TSE:9104) Has Announced That Its Dividend Will Be Reduced To ¥100.00

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.'s (TSE:9104) dividend is being reduced from last year's payment covering the same period to ¥100.00 on the 27th of November. However, the dividend yield of 3.6% is still a decent boost to shareholder returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines is quite easily earning enough to cover the dividend, however it is being let down by weak 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.

EPS is set to fall by 14.9% over the next 12 months. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could be 47%, which we consider to be quite comfortable, with most of the company's earnings left over to grow the business in the future.

Dividend Volatility

While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. The annual payment during the last 10 years was ¥20.00 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was ¥180.00. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 25% a year over that time. 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

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. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 57% per annum. Earnings have been growing rapidly, and with a low payout ratio we think that the company could turn out to be a great dividend stock.

In Summary

In summary, dividends being cut isn't ideal, however it can bring the payment into a more sustainable range. While Mitsui O.S.K. Lines is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. 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. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Just as an example, we've come across 4 warning signs for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines you should be aware of, and 1 of them is concerning. 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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