4 Days Left Before NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU) Will Be Trading Ex-Dividend

Investors who want to cash in on NewMarket Corporation's (NYSE:NEU) upcoming dividend of US$1.75 per share have only 4 days left to buy the shares before its ex-dividend date, 14 March 2019, in time for dividends payable on the 01 April 2019. Investors looking for higher income-generating stocks to add to their portfolio should keep reading, as I examine NewMarket's latest financial data to analyse its dividend characteristics.

Check out our latest analysis for NewMarket

5 questions I ask before picking a dividend stock

If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics:

• Is its annual yield among the top 25% of dividend-paying companies?
• Does it consistently pay out dividends without missing a payment of significantly cutting payout?
• Has dividend per share risen in the past couple of years?
• Does earnings amply cover its dividend payments?
• Based on future earnings growth, will it be able to continue to payout dividend at the current rate?

How well does NewMarket fit our criteria?

NewMarket has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 34%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. Furthermore, analysts have not forecasted a dividends per share for the future, which makes it hard to determine the yield shareholders should expect, and whether the current payout is sustainable, moving forward.

When assessing the forecast sustainability of a dividend it is also worth considering the cash flow of the business. Cash flow is important because companies with strong cash flow can usually sustain higher payout ratios.

Reliablity is an important factor for dividend stocks, particularly for income investors who want a strong track record of payment and a positive outlook for future payout. NEU has increased its DPS from $0.80 to $7 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. This is an impressive feat, which makes NEU a true dividend rockstar.

In terms of its peers, NewMarket produces a yield of 1.6%, which is on the low-side for Chemicals stocks.

Next Steps:

With these dividend metrics in mind, I definitely rank NewMarket as a strong income stock, and is worth further research for anyone who considers dividends an important part of their portfolio strategy. Given that 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. Below, I've compiled three essential aspects you should further research:

1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for NEU’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for NEU’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is NEU 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 NEU is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger 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.