Comerica (NYSE:CMA) Has Re-Affirmed Its Dividend Of US$0.68
The board of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA) has announced that it will pay a dividend of US$0.68 per share on the 1st of October. Based on this payment, the dividend yield on the company's stock will be 3.6%, which is an attractive boost to shareholder returns.
See our latest analysis for Comerica
Comerica'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. Prior to this announcement, Comerica's dividend was only 35% of earnings, however it was paying out 357% of free cash flows. A cash payout ratio this high could put the dividend under pressure and force the company to reduce it in the future if it were to run into tough times.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to fall by 14.0%. If the dividend continues along the path it has been on recently, we estimate the payout ratio could be 51%, which is comfortable for the company to continue in the future.
Comerica Has A Solid Track Record
The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. The dividend has gone from US$0.40 in 2011 to the most recent annual payment of US$2.72. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 21% a year over that time. 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 Looks Likely To Grow
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. We are encouraged to see that Comerica has grown earnings per share at 27% per year over the past five years. Rapid earnings growth and a low payout ratio suggest this company has been effectively reinvesting in its business. Should that continue, this company could have a bright future.
Our Thoughts On Comerica's Dividend
Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. While Comerica is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. 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. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 1 warning sign for Comerica that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. 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. 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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