Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) Is Paying Out A Dividend Of SGD0.10
Singapore Airlines Limited (SGX:C6L) will pay a dividend of SGD0.10 on the 22nd of December. This means the annual payment is 5.9% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines' Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions
While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Prior to this announcement, Singapore Airlines' dividend made up quite a large proportion of earnings but only 29% of free cash flows. This leaves plenty of cash for reinvestment into the business.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to fall by 24.3%. If recent patterns in the dividend continue, we could see the payout ratio reaching 77% in the next 12 months, which is on the higher end of the range we would say is sustainable.
Dividend Volatility
Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. The dividend has gone from an annual total of SGD0.12 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of SGD0.38. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 12% a year over that time. It is great to see strong growth in the dividend payments, but cuts are concerning as it may indicate the payout policy is too ambitious.
Singapore Airlines May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend
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. Singapore Airlines has seen earnings per share falling at 2.5% per year over the last five years. If earnings continue declining, the company may have to make the difficult choice of reducing the dividend or even stopping it completely - the opposite of dividend growth.
Our Thoughts On Singapore Airlines' Dividend
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Singapore Airlines' payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The company is generating plenty of cash, which could maintain the dividend for a while, but the track record hasn't been great. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Singapore Airlines (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about. Is Singapore Airlines 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.
