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The board of Stella-Jones Inc. (TSE:SJ) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of CA$0.31 on the 18th of April, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. Despite this raise, the dividend yield of 1.8% is only a modest boost to shareholder returns.
Stella-Jones' Future Dividend Projections Appear Well Covered By Earnings
Even a low dividend yield can be attractive if it is sustained for years on end. However, prior to this announcement, Stella-Jones' dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 12.4%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 20% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
See our latest analysis for Stella-Jones
Stella-Jones Has A Solid Track Record
The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from an annual total of CA$0.28 in 2015 to the most recent total annual payment of CA$1.24. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 16% per annum over that time. So, dividends have been growing pretty quickly, and even more impressively, they haven't experienced any notable falls during this period.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. It's encouraging to see that Stella-Jones has been growing its earnings per share at 19% a year over the past five years. Growth in EPS bodes well for the dividend, as does the low payout ratio that the company is currently reporting.
We Really Like Stella-Jones' Dividend
Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Stella-Jones that you should be aware of before investing. 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.