The board of JFE Holdings, Inc. (TSE:5411) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 26th of June, with investors receiving ¥40.00 per share. However, the dividend yield of 3.9% still remains in a typical range for the industry.
Solid dividend yields are great, but they only really help us if the payment is sustainable. Before this announcement, JFE Holdings was paying out 75% of earnings, but a comparatively small 45% of free cash flows. Since the dividend is just paying out cash to shareholders, we care more about the cash payout ratio from which we can see plenty is being left over for reinvestment in the business.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 22.1%. Under the assumption that the dividend will continue along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 60% which would be quite comfortable going to take the dividend forward.
View our latest analysis for JFE Holdings
While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. The payments haven't really changed that much since 10 years ago. The dividend has seen some fluctuations in the past, so even though the dividend was raised this year, we should remember that it has been cut in the past.
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. We are encouraged to see that JFE Holdings has grown earnings per share at 18% per year over the past five years. Past earnings growth has been decent, but unless this is one of those rare businesses that can grow without additional capital investment or marketing spend, we'd generally expect the higher payout ratio to limit its future growth prospects.
Overall, the dividend looks like it may have been a bit high, which explains why it has now been cut. 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.
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 instance, we've picked out 4 warning signs for JFE Holdings that investors should take into consideration. 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.