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Admiral Group plc (LON:ADM) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 13th of June to £1.21. This takes the dividend yield to 6.8%, which shareholders will be pleased with.
Admiral Group's Projected Earnings Seem Likely To Cover Future Distributions
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Prior to this announcement, Admiral Group's dividend was only 66% of earnings, however it was paying out 257% of free cash flows. The company might be more focused on returning cash to shareholders, but paying out this much of its cash flow could expose the dividend to being cut in the future.
Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 19.2% over the next year. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could reach 78%, which is on the higher side, but certainly still feasible.
View our latest analysis for Admiral Group
Dividend Volatility
The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. Since 2015, the annual payment back then was £1.00, compared to the most recent full-year payment of £1.92. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 6.7% over that duration. We have seen cuts in the past, so while the growth looks promising we would be a little bit cautious about its track record.
The Dividend Has Growth Potential
Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. It's encouraging to see that Admiral Group has been growing its earnings per share at 8.9% a year over the past five years. While on an earnings basis, this company looks appealing as an income stock, the cash payout ratio still makes us cautious.
Our Thoughts On Admiral Group's Dividend
In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Admiral Group's payments are rock solid. While Admiral Group is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. 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. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Just as an example, we've come across 2 warning signs for Admiral Group you should be aware of, and 1 of them is potentially serious. 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.