The board of PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSMT) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 29th of August, with investors receiving $0.63 per share. The payment will take the dividend yield to 1.2%, which is in line with the average for the industry.
We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Before making this announcement, PriceSmart was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that most of its earnings are being retained to grow the business.
Over the next year, EPS could expand by 12.3% if recent trends continue. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 25%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
See our latest analysis for PriceSmart
The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.70 in 2015 to the most recent total annual payment of $1.26. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.1% a year 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.
Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. It's encouraging to see that PriceSmart has been growing its earnings per share at 12% a year over the past five years. A low payout ratio and decent growth suggests that the company is reinvesting well, and it also has plenty of room to increase the dividend over time.
In summary, it is always positive to see the dividend being increased, and we are particularly pleased with its overall sustainability. 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. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.
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 1 warning sign for PriceSmart that investors should take into consideration. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield 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.