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Hanmi Financial (NASDAQ:HAFC) Is Paying Out A Larger Dividend Than Last Year

The board of Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:HAFC) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 24th of February to US$0.22. The announced payment will take the dividend yield to 2.5%, which is in line with the average for the industry.

See our latest analysis for Hanmi Financial

Hanmi Financial's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions

While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Before making this announcement, Hanmi Financial was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to fall by 4.1%. If the dividend continues along the path it has been on recently, we estimate the payout ratio could be 28%, which is comfortable for the company to continue in the future.

historic-dividend
historic-dividend

Hanmi Financial's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

It's comforting to see that Hanmi Financial has been paying a dividend for a number of years now, however it has been cut at least once in that time. This suggests that the dividend might not be the most reliable. The first annual payment during the last 8 years was US$0.28 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was US$0.48. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 7.0% per annum over that time. We have seen cuts in the past, so while the growth looks promising we would be a little bit cautious about its track record.

The Dividend Has Growth Potential

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Hanmi Financial has impressed us by growing EPS at 8.0% per year over the past five years. Hanmi Financial definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio.

Our Thoughts On Hanmi Financial's Dividend

In summary, it's great to see that the company can raise the dividend and keep it in a sustainable range. The payout ratio looks good, but unfortunately the company's dividend track record isn't stellar. This looks like it could be a good dividend stock going forward, but we would note that the payout ratio has been at higher levels in the past so it could happen again.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Just as an example, we've come across 2 warning signs for Hanmi Financial you should be aware of, and 1 of them is potentially serious. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a solid dividend.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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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