PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) Is Increasing Its Dividend To US$0.15
The board of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) has announced that the dividend on 4th of January will be increased to US$0.15, which will be 7.1% higher than last year. Even though the dividend went up, the yield is still quite low at only 1.1%.
Check out our latest analysis for PulteGroup
PulteGroup's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions
While yield is important, another factor to consider about a company's dividend is whether the current payout levels are feasible. Before making this announcement, PulteGroup was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.
Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 34.5% over the next year. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 6.9% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
PulteGroup Is Still Building Its Track Record
The dividend's track record has been pretty solid, but with only 8 years of history we want to see a few more years of history before making any solid conclusions. The first annual payment during the last 8 years was US$0.20 in 2013, and the most recent fiscal year payment was US$0.56. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 14% a year over that time. PulteGroup has been growing its dividend quite rapidly, which is exciting. However, the short payment history makes us question whether this performance will persist across a full market cycle.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. It's encouraging to see PulteGroup has been growing its earnings per share at 33% a year over the past five years. Earnings per share is growing at a solid clip, and the payout ratio is low which we think is an ideal combination in a dividend stock as the company can quite easily raise the dividend in the future.
We Really Like PulteGroup's Dividend
In summary, it is always positive to see the dividend being increased, and we are particularly pleased with its overall sustainability. 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 of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.
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. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 14 analysts we track are forecasting for PulteGroup for free with public analyst estimates for the company. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of strong dividend payers.
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.
