STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) will increase its dividend on the 23rd of September to $0.47, which is 9.3% higher than last year's payment from the same period of $0.43. This takes the annual payment to 0.8% of the current stock price, which unfortunately is below what the industry is paying.
Check out our latest analysis for STERIS
STERIS' Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
If it is predictable over a long period, even low dividend yields can be attractive. Based on the last payment, STERIS was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This indicates that a lot of the earnings are being reinvested into the business, with the aim of fueling growth.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 108.0%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 24%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
STERIS Has A Solid Track Record
The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. The annual payment during the last 10 years was $0.68 in 2012, and the most recent fiscal year payment was $1.72. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 9.7% per annum over that time. The growth of the dividend has been pretty reliable, so we think this can offer investors some nice additional income in their portfolio.
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. STERIS has impressed us by growing EPS at 22% per year over the past five years. STERIS is clearly able to grow rapidly while still returning cash to shareholders, positioning it to become a strong dividend payer in the future.
We Really Like STERIS' Dividend
Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. Distributions are quite easily covered by earnings, which are also being converted to cash flows. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 1 warning sign for STERIS that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Is STERIS 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.
About NYSE:STE
Excellent balance sheet, good value and pays a dividend.
