Yahoo Finance Newmont (NYSE:NEM) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of $0.55
The board of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.55 per share on the 22nd of September. This means the annual payment is 4.9% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.
While the dividend yield is important for income investors, it is also important to consider any large share price moves, as this will generally outweigh any gains from distributions. Newmont's stock price has reduced by 34% in the last 3 months, which is not ideal for investors and can explain a sharp increase in the dividend yield.
See our latest analysis for Newmont
Newmont Is Paying Out More Than It Is Earning
We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. Before making this announcement, Newmont's dividend was higher than its profits, but the free cash flows quite comfortably covered it. Healthy cash flows are always a positive sign, especially when they quite easily cover the dividend.
Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 172.4% over the next year. If the dividend continues on its recent course, the payout ratio in 12 months could be 124%, which is a bit high and could start applying pressure to the balance sheet.
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. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $1.40 in 2012 to the most recent total annual payment of $2.20. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.6% a year over that time. Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent.
Newmont's Dividend Might Lack Growth
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Newmont has impressed us by growing EPS at 67% per year over the past five years. EPS has been growing well, but Newmont has been paying out a massive proportion of its earnings, which can make the dividend tough to maintain.
In Summary
Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. In the past, the payments have been unstable, but over the short term the dividend could be reliable, with the company generating enough cash to cover it. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For instance, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Newmont that investors should take into consideration. Is Newmont 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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