First National Corporation (NASDAQ:FXNC) Passed Our Checks, And It's About To Pay A US$0.11 Dividend
Readers hoping to buy First National Corporation (NASDAQ:FXNC) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. If you purchase the stock on or after the 27th of February, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 13th of March.
First National's upcoming dividend is US$0.11 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$0.36 per share to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, First National has a trailing yield of approximately 2.2% on its current stock price of $20.21. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing.
View our latest analysis for First National
If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. First National has a low and conservative payout ratio of just 19% of its income after tax.
Companies that pay out less in dividends than they earn in profits generally have more sustainable dividends. The lower the payout ratio, the more wiggle room the business has before it could be forced to cut the dividend.
Click here to see how much of its profit First National paid out over the last 12 months.
Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?
Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at First National, with earnings per share up 7.8% on average over the last five years.
Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. First National's dividend payments per share have declined at 2.4% per year on average over the past ten years, which is uninspiring. First National is a rare case where dividends have been decreasing at the same time as earnings per share have been improving. It's unusual to see, and could point to unstable conditions in the core business, or more rarely an intensified focus on reinvesting profits.
Final Takeaway
Has First National got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? It has been growing its earnings per share somewhat in recent years, although it reinvests more than half its earnings in the business, which could suggest there are some growth projects that have not yet reached fruition. In summary, First National appears to have some promise as a dividend stock, and we'd suggest taking a closer look at it.
Curious about whether First National has been able to consistently generate growth? Here's a chart of its historical revenue and earnings growth.
A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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