Amcor (NYSE:AMCR) Is Paying Out A Dividend Of $0.125

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The board of Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 12th of December, with investors receiving $0.125 per share. This makes the dividend yield 5.4%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.

See our latest analysis for Amcor

Amcor's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. The last dividend made up a very large portion of earnings and also represented 78% of free cash flows. This is usually an indication that the focus of the company is returning cash to shareholders rather than reinvesting it for growth.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 5.0%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 71% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

historic-dividend
historic-dividend

Amcor Doesn't Have A Long Payment History

The company has maintained a consistent dividend for a few years now, but we would like to see a longer track record before relying on it. Since 2019, the annual payment back then was $0.48, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $0.49. Dividend payments have been growing, but very slowly over the period. We like that the dividend hasn't been shrinking. However we're conscious that the company hasn't got an overly long track record of dividend payments yet, which makes us wary of relying on its dividend income.

Amcor Could Grow Its Dividend

Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Amcor has impressed us by growing EPS at 7.6% per year over the past five years. The payout ratio is very much on the higher end, which could mean that the growth rate will slow down in the future, and that could flow through to the dividend as well.

Our Thoughts On Amcor's Dividend

In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Amcor's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, but generally we are not too happy with the payments Amcor has been making. We don't think Amcor is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

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. For example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Amcor (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) 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.

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