Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Analysis

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Insights into Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Sustainability and Growth

Becton Dickinson & Co (NYSE:BDX) recently announced a dividend of $0.95 per share, payable on 2024-03-29, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-03-07. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Becton Dickinson & Co's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Becton Dickinson & Co Do?

Becton Dickinson is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of medical surgical products, such as needles, syringes, and sharps-disposal units. The company also manufactures pre-filled devices, diagnostic instruments and reagents, as well as flow cytometry and cell-imaging systems. BD Medical is nearly half of the total business, while BD Life Sciences (27% of 2023 revenue) and BD Interventional (24%) account for the remainder. International revenue accounts for 43% of the company's business.

Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Analysis
Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend History

Becton Dickinson & Co has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1972. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis.

Becton Dickinson & Co has increased its dividend each year since 1972, earning it the title of a dividend kinga prestigious designation for companies with at least 52 consecutive years of dividend increases. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Becton Dickinson & Co currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.54% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.59%, suggesting an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

Over the past three years, Becton Dickinson & Co's annual dividend growth rate was 4.80%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to 4.00% per year. And over the past decade, Becton Dickinson & Co's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 5.90%. Based on Becton Dickinson & Co's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Becton Dickinson & Co stock as of today is approximately 1.87%.

Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Analysis
Becton Dickinson & Co's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Becton Dickinson & Co's dividend payout ratio is 0.40.

Becton Dickinson & Co's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Becton Dickinson & Co's profitability 7 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

Becton Dickinson & Co's growth rank of 7 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Becton Dickinson & Co's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Becton Dickinson & Co's revenue has increased by approximately 5.70% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 57.26% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Becton Dickinson & Co's earnings increased by approximately 87.70% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 4.83% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 36.90%, which underperforms approximately 17.89% of global competitors.

Next Steps

In conclusion, Becton Dickinson & Co's longstanding history as a dividend king, coupled with a moderate dividend yield and consistent growth in dividends per share, presents a compelling case for value investors. The company's low payout ratio and robust profitability rank underscore the sustainability of its dividends. However, while Becton Dickinson & Co exhibits good growth prospects, its performance in revenue and earnings growth rates suggests room for improvement when compared to some global competitors. Investors considering Becton Dickinson & Co for its dividend attributes should also weigh these growth metrics to make an informed decision. For those seeking additional high-dividend yield opportunities, GuruFocus Premium users can explore using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

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