Should Investors Buy Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) And Lock In The 4.2% Dividend Yield?

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If you are an income investor, then Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) should be on your radar. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated operates as a holding company for The Huntington National Bank that provides commercial, small business, consumer, and mortgage banking services. Over the past 10 years, the US$14b market cap company has been growing its dividend payments, from $0.040 to $0.56. Currently yielding 4.2%, let's take a closer look at Huntington Bancshares's dividend profile.

See our latest analysis for Huntington Bancshares

What Is A Dividend Rock Star?

It is a stock that pays a consistent, reliable and competitive dividend over a long period of time, and is expected to continue to pay in the same manner many years to come. More specifically:

• It is paying an annual yield above 75% of dividend payers
• It consistently pays out dividend without missing a payment or significantly cutting payout
• Its has increased its dividend per share amount over the past
• It is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings
• It has the ability to keep paying its dividends going forward

High Yield And Dependable

Huntington Bancshares's yield sits at 4.2%, which is high for Banks stocks. But the real reason Huntington Bancshares stands out is because it has a high chance of being able to continue to pay dividend at this level for years to come, something that is quite desirable if you are looking to create a portfolio that generates a steady stream of income.

If there's one type of stock you want to be reliable, it's dividend stocks and their stable income-generating ability. HBAN has increased its DPS from $0.040 to $0.56 in the past 10 years. It has also been paying out dividend consistently during this time, as you'd expect for a company increasing its dividend levels. These are all positive signs of a great, reliable dividend stock.

The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for the stock is 42%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. In the near future, analysts are predicting a payout ratio of 45% which, assuming the share price stays the same, leads to a dividend yield of 4.7%. In addition to this, EPS should increase to $1.35.

When assessing the forecast sustainability of a dividend it is also worth considering the cash flow of the business. A company with strong cash flow, relative to earnings, can sometimes sustain a high pay out ratio.

Next Steps:

There aren't many other stocks out there with the same track record as Huntington Bancshares, so I would certainly recommend further examining the stock if its dividend characteristics appeal to you. However, given this is purely a dividend analysis, you should always research extensively before deciding whether or not a stock is an appropriate investment for you. I always recommend analysing the company's fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. I've put together three pertinent factors you should further research:

1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for HBAN’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for HBAN’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is HBAN worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether HBAN is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there strong dividend payers with better fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.