The board of LifeWorks Inc. (TSE:LWRK) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 15th of September, with investors receiving CA$0.065 per share. The dividend yield will be 2.2% based on this payment which is still above the industry average.
See our latest analysis for LifeWorks
LifeWorks Might Find It Hard To Continue The Dividend
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Even though LifeWorks isn't generating a profit, it is generating healthy free cash flows that easily cover the dividend. This gives us some comfort about the level of the dividend payments.
Over the next year, EPS might fall by 5.0% based on recent performance. While this means that the company will be unprofitable, we generally believe cash flows are more important, and the current cash payout ratio is quite healthy, which gives us comfort.
LifeWorks Has A Solid Track Record
Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was CA$0.94 in 2011, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CA$0.78. Doing the maths, this is a decline of about 1.9% per year. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
Dividend Growth Is Doubtful
Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. However, initial appearances might be deceiving. LifeWorks has seen earnings per share falling at 5.0% per year over the last five years. A modest decline in earnings isn't great, and it makes it quite unlikely that the dividend will grow in the future unless that trend can be reversed.
Our Thoughts On LifeWorks' Dividend
Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. The company has been bring in plenty of cash to cover the dividend, but we don't necessarily think that makes it a great dividend stock. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've identified 3 warning signs for LifeWorks (1 is a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of strong dividend payers.
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.
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