Yahoo Finance Aurizon Holdings' (ASX:AZJ) Dividend Will Be Reduced To A$0.109
Aurizon Holdings Limited (ASX:AZJ) is reducing its dividend from last year's comparable payment to A$0.109 on the 21st of September. However, the dividend yield of 5.5% is still a decent boost to shareholder returns.
View our latest analysis for Aurizon Holdings
Aurizon Holdings' Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions
We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. Prior to this announcement, Aurizon Holdings' dividend made up quite a large proportion of earnings but only 50% of free cash flows. This leaves plenty of cash for reinvestment into the business.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 9.7%. Assuming the dividend continues along the course it has been charting recently, our estimates show the payout ratio being 71% which brings it into quite a comfortable range.
Dividend Volatility
While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2012, the dividend has gone from A$0.037 total annually to A$0.214. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 19% per annum over that time. Aurizon Holdings has grown distributions at a rapid rate despite cutting the dividend at least once in the past. Companies that cut once often cut again, so we would be cautious about buying this stock solely for the dividend income.
Dividend Growth Could Be Constrained
Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. Aurizon Holdings has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 22% per annum. However, Aurizon Holdings isn't reinvesting a lot back into the business, so we wonder how quickly it will be able to grow in the future.
Our Thoughts On Aurizon Holdings' Dividend
Overall, it's not great to see that the dividend has been cut, but this might be explained by the payments being a bit high previously. 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.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For instance, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Aurizon Holdings that investors should take into consideration. Is Aurizon Holdings 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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