Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd. (TSE:1888) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 8th of June to ¥131.00. This takes the annual payment to 3.0% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.
Unless the payments are sustainable, the dividend yield doesn't mean too much. Based on the last payment, Wakachiku Construction was earning enough to cover the dividend, but free cash flows weren't positive. With the company not bringing in any cash, paying out to shareholders is bound to become difficult at some point.
Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 36.3% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 32% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.
Check out our latest analysis for Wakachiku Construction
The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. Since 2015, the dividend has gone from ¥20.00 total annually to ¥131.00. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 21% a year over that time. It is good to see that there has been strong dividend growth, and that there haven't been any cuts for a long time.
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. It's encouraging to see that Wakachiku Construction has been growing its earnings per share at 36% a year over the past five years. Earnings per share is growing at a solid clip, and the payout ratio is low which we think is an ideal combination in a dividend stock as the company can quite easily raise the dividend in the future.
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Wakachiku Construction will make a great income stock. While the low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.
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. Just as an example, we've come across 2 warning signs for Wakachiku Construction you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.
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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.