Stock Analysis

Wabash National (NYSE:WNC) Is Due To Pay A Dividend Of $0.08

NYSE:WNC
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The board of Wabash National Corporation (NYSE:WNC) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 27th of July, with investors receiving $0.08 per share. The dividend yield is 1.3% based on this payment, which is a little bit low compared to the other companies in the industry.

View our latest analysis for Wabash National

Wabash National's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

Even a low dividend yield can be attractive if it is sustained for years on end. Before making this announcement, Wabash National was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 16.1%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 9.4% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

historic-dividend
NYSE:WNC Historic Dividend May 15th 2023

Wabash National Doesn't Have A Long Payment History

Even though the company has been paying a consistent dividend for a while, we would like to see a few more years before we feel comfortable relying on it. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.24 in 2017 to the most recent total annual payment of $0.32. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 4.9% per annum over that time. Wabash National hasn't been paying a dividend for very long, so we wouldn't get to excited about its record of growth just yet.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. Wabash National has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 11% per annum. Wabash National definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio.

We Really Like Wabash National's Dividend

Overall, we think that this is a great income investment, and we think that maintaining the dividend this year may have been a conservative choice. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity.

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 3 warning signs for Wabash National you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored. Is Wabash National not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top 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.