Kraftia Corporation (TSE:1959) will pay a dividend of ¥90.00 on the 4th of June. This takes the annual payment to 2.3% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.
Unless the payments are sustainable, the dividend yield doesn't mean too much. Before making this announcement, Kraftia was paying a whopping 238% as a dividend, but this only made up 38% of its overall earnings. The business might be trying to strike a balance between returning cash to shareholders and reinvesting back into the business, but this high of a payout ratio could definitely force the dividend to be cut if the company runs into a bit of a tough spot.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 11.9%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 42%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
Check out our latest analysis for Kraftia
The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2015, the dividend has gone from ¥16.00 total annually to ¥180.00. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 27% a year over that time. Rapidly growing dividends for a long time is a very valuable feature for an income stock.
Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. However, Kraftia has only grown its earnings per share at 5.0% per annum over the past five years. Earnings growth is slow, but on the plus side, the dividend payout ratio is low and dividends could grow faster than earnings, if the company decides to increase its payout ratio.
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Kraftia will make a great income stock. While the low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.
It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. 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 Kraftia that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.
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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.