NetEase's (NASDAQ:NTES) Dividend Will Be Increased To CN¥0.4325
NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTES) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 16th of December to CN¥0.4325. This takes the dividend yield to 1.5%, which shareholders will be pleased with.
View our latest analysis for NetEase
NetEase's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. However, NetEase's earnings easily 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 expand by 15.3%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 4.4%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
NetEase's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency
Looking back, NetEase's dividend hasn't been particularly consistent. This suggests that the dividend might not be the most reliable. The annual payment during the last 9 years was CN¥1.71 in 2013, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CN¥7.38. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 18% a year over that time. Dividends have grown rapidly over this time, but with cuts in the past we are not certain that this stock will be a reliable source of income in the future.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
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. NetEase has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 12% per annum. A low payout ratio and decent growth suggests that the company is reinvesting well, and it also has plenty of room to increase the dividend over time.
NetEase Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock
Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 36 NetEase analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company. Is NetEase not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.
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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.
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