Yahoo Finance Sysco (NYSE:SYY) Is Increasing Its Dividend To US$0.47
The board of Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 23rd of July to US$0.47. This makes the dividend yield 2.3%, which is above the industry average.
Check out our latest analysis for Sysco
Sysco's Distributions May Be Difficult To Sustain
Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Sysco is not generating a profit, but its free cash flows easily cover the dividend, leaving plenty for reinvestment in the business. In general, cash flows are more important than the more traditional measures of profit so we feel pretty comfortable with the dividend at this level.
Recent, EPS has fallen by 11.1%, so this could continue over the next year. While this means that the company will be unprofitable, we generally believe cash flows are more important, and the current cash payout ratio is quite healthy, which gives us comfort.
Sysco Has A Solid Track Record
The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from US$1.00 in 2011 to the most recent annual payment of US$1.88. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 6.5% per annum over that time. Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate over this period, and without any major cuts in the payment over time, we think this is an attractive combination as it provides a nice boost to shareholder returns.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. However, initial appearances might be deceiving. Over the past five years, it looks as though Sysco's EPS has declined at around 11% a year. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective. Even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough.
In Summary
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Sysco will make a great income stock. The company is generating plenty of cash, but we still think the dividend is a bit high for comfort. 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. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. To that end, Sysco has 2 warning signs (and 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) we think you should know about. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high performing dividend stock.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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