Fortis (TSE:FTS) Has Announced That It Will Be Increasing Its Dividend To CA$0.535
The board of Fortis Inc. ( TSE:FTS ) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 1st of March to CA$0.535. This makes the dividend yield about the same as the industry average at 3.4%.
See our latest analysis for Fortis
Fortis' Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
We like a dividend to be consistent over the long term, so checking whether it is sustainable is important. The last dividend made up quite a large portion of free cash flows, and this was made worse by the lack of free cash flows. This is a pretty unsustainable practice, and could be risky if continued for the long term.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 7.9%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, our estimates say the payout ratio could reach 79%. This is definitely on the higher side, but we wouldn't necessarily say this is unsustainable.
Fortis Has A Solid Track Record
The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. Since 2012, the first annual payment was CA$1.16, compared to the most recent full-year payment of CA$2.14. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 6.3% per annum over that time. Companies like this can be very valuable over the long term, if the decent rate of growth can be maintained.
Fortis 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. We are encouraged to see that Fortis has grown earnings per share at 6.8% 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.
Fortis' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable
Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Fortis will make a great income stock. In the past the payments have been stable, but we think the company is paying out too much for this to continue for the long term. 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 Fortis that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list 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.
