Pintaras Jaya Berhad (KLSE:PTARAS) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 15th of November to MYR0.05. This takes the dividend yield to 3.3%, which shareholders will be pleased with.
See our latest analysis for Pintaras Jaya Berhad
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Pintaras Jaya Berhad is not generating a profit, but its free cash flows easily cover the dividend, leaving plenty for reinvestment in the business. We generally think that cash flow is more important than accounting measures of profit, so we are fairly comfortable with the dividend at this level.
EPS is forecast to rise very quickly over the next 12 months. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could reach 105%, which is unsustainable.
Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. The dividend has gone from an annual total of MYR0.21 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of MYR0.05. Dividend payments have fallen sharply, down 76% over that time. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
Given that the track record hasn't been stellar, we really want to see earnings per share growing over time. Pintaras Jaya Berhad's EPS has fallen by approximately 31% per year during the past five years. This steep decline can indicate that the business is going through a tough time, which could constrain its ability to pay a larger dividend each year in the future. It's not all bad news though, as the earnings are predicted to rise over the next 12 months - we would just be a bit cautious until this becomes a long term trend.
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Pintaras Jaya Berhad will make a great income stock. 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. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.
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. For instance, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Pintaras Jaya Berhad that investors should take into consideration. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.