Kato Works Co.,Ltd.'s (TSE:6390) investors are due to receive a payment of ¥35.00 per share on 30th of June. This makes the dividend yield 4.8%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.
A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Even in the absence of profits, Kato WorksLtd is paying a dividend. Along with this, it is also not generating free cash flows, which raises concerns about the sustainability of the dividend.
Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 18.7% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. The company seems to be going down the right path, but it will probably take a little bit longer than a year to cross over into profitability. Unless this happens fairly soon, the dividend could start to come under pressure.
See our latest analysis for Kato WorksLtd
The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. Since 2016, the annual payment back then was ¥95.00, compared to the most recent full-year payment of ¥70.00. This works out to be a decline of approximately 3.0% per year over that time. Generally, we don't like to see a dividend that has been declining over time as this can degrade shareholders' returns and indicate that the company may be running into problems.
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. It's encouraging to see that Kato WorksLtd has been growing its earnings per share at 19% a year over the past five years. Unprofitable companies aren't normally our pick for a dividend stock, but we like the growth that we have been seeing. All is not lost, but the future of the dividend definitely rests upon the company's ability to become profitable soon.
Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. Strong earnings growth means Kato WorksLtd has the potential to be a good dividend stock in the future, despite the current payments being at elevated levels. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. As an example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Kato WorksLtd 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.