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Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ENR) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.30 per share on the 12th of December. This makes the dividend yield 3.2%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.
See our latest analysis for Energizer Holdings
Energizer Holdings' Future Dividends May Potentially Be At Risk
Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Based on the last payment, Energizer Holdings' profits didn't cover the dividend, but the company was generating enough cash instead. Healthy cash flows are always a positive sign, especially when they quite easily cover the dividend.
Looking forward, EPS could fall by 7.7% if the company can't turn things around from the last few years. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we believe the payout ratio could reach 256%, which could put the dividend under pressure if earnings don't start to improve.
Energizer Holdings Is Still Building Its Track Record
The dividend's track record has been pretty solid, but with only 9 years of history we want to see a few more years of history before making any solid conclusions. Since 2015, the annual payment back then was $1.00, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $1.20. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 2.0% per annum over that time. Modest dividend growth is good to see, especially with the payments being relatively stable. However, the payment history is relatively short and we wouldn't want to rely on this dividend too much.
Dividend Growth Is Doubtful
Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Unfortunately things aren't as good as they seem. In the last five years, Energizer Holdings' earnings per share has shrunk at approximately 7.7% per annum. If earnings continue declining, the company may have to make the difficult choice of reducing the dividend or even stopping it completely - the opposite of dividend growth.
Energizer Holdings' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable
Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. In the past, the payments have been unstable, but over the short term the dividend could be reliable, with the company generating enough cash to cover it. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. To that end, Energizer Holdings has 4 warning signs (and 1 which is concerning) we think you should know about. 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.