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Hock Lian Seng Holdings' (SGX:J2T) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's
The board of Hock Lian Seng Holdings Limited (SGX:J2T) has announced that the dividend on 17th of May will be increased to SGD0.015, which will be 50% higher than last year's payment of SGD0.01 which covered the same period. This takes the annual payment to 4.4% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Hock Lian Seng Holdings
Hock Lian Seng Holdings' Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings
We like to see a healthy dividend yield, but that is only helpful to us if the payment can continue. Based on the last payment, Hock Lian Seng Holdings was earning enough to cover the dividend, but free cash flows weren't positive. With the company not bringing in any cash, paying out to shareholders is bound to become difficult at some point.
Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 13.6% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 23% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
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. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from SGD0.018 total annually to SGD0.015. Doing the maths, this is a decline of about 1.8% per year. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
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. Hock Lian Seng Holdings has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 14% per annum. A low payout ratio and decent growth suggests that the company is reinvesting well, and it also has plenty of room to increase the dividend over time.
In Summary
Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. While the low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. We don't think Hock Lian Seng Holdings 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. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Hock Lian Seng Holdings (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about. 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 SGX:J2T
Hock Lian Seng Holdings
An investment holding company, primarily provides civil engineering services to public and private sectors in Singapore.
Flawless balance sheet with solid track record.