Yahoo Finance State Street's (NYSE:STT) Shareholders Will Receive A Bigger Dividend Than Last Year
State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 11th of July to US$0.57. This takes the dividend yield from 3.5% to 3.5%, which shareholders will be pleased with.
View our latest analysis for State Street
State Street's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Based on the last payment, State Street was paying only paying out a fraction of earnings, but the payment was a massive 102% of cash flows. The business might be trying to strike a balance between returning cash to shareholders and reinvesting back into the business, but this high of a payout ratio could definitely force the dividend to be cut if the company runs into a bit of a tough spot.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 6.9%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 32% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
State Street Has A Solid Track Record
The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was US$0.72 in 2012, and the most recent fiscal year payment was US$2.28. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 12% over that duration. 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 Dividend Has Growth Potential
Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. State Street has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 6.0% per annum. A low payout ratio and decent growth suggests that the company is reinvesting well, and it also has plenty of room to increase the dividend over time.
In Summary
In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think State Street's payments are rock solid. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.
It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For instance, we've picked out 2 warning signs for State Street 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.
