Afine Investments (JSE:ANI) Is Due To Pay A Dividend Of ZAR0.205

Afine Investments Limited (JSE:ANI) will pay a dividend of ZAR0.205 on the 24th of June. This means that the annual payment will be 8.3% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry.

View our latest analysis for Afine Investments

Afine Investments Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning

While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Based on the last payment, Afine Investments' profits didn't cover the dividend, but the company was generating enough cash instead. Generally, we think cash is more important than accounting measures of profit, so with the cash flows easily covering the dividend, we don't think there is much reason to worry.

EPS is set to fall by 75.6% over the next 12 months if recent trends continue. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could reach 421%, which could put the dividend in jeopardy if the company's earnings don't improve.

Afine Investments' Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

Looking back, the company hasn't been paying the most consistent dividend, but with such a short dividend history it could be too early to draw solid conclusions. Since 2022, the annual payment back then was ZAR0.556, compared to the most recent full-year payment of ZAR0.411. This works out to a decline of approximately 26% over that time. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.

The Dividend Has Limited Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, and a poor history of shrinking dividends, it's even more important to see if EPS is growing. Afine Investments' earnings per share has fallen 76% over the past year. Reduced dividend payments are a common consequence of declining earnings. We do note though, one year is too short a time to be drawing strong conclusions about a company's future prospects.

Afine Investments' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable

In summary, dividends being cut isn't ideal, however it can bring the payment into a more sustainable range. The payments haven't been particularly stable and we don't see huge growth potential, but with the dividend well covered by cash flows it could prove to be reliable over the short term. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For instance, we've picked out 5 warning signs for Afine Investments that investors should take into consideration. Is Afine Investments 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.