QBE Insurance Group (ASX:QBE) Is Paying Out A Larger Dividend Than Last Year
QBE Insurance Group Limited (ASX:QBE) will increase its dividend on the 24th of September to AU$0.11. Even though the dividend went up, the yield is still quite low at only 0.9%.
View our latest analysis for QBE Insurance Group
QBE Insurance Group's Distributions May Be Difficult To Sustain
The dividend yield is a little bit low, but sustainability of the payments is also an important part of evaluating an income stock. While QBE Insurance Group is not profitable, it is paying out less than 75% of its free cash flow, which means that there is plenty left over for reinvestment into the business. We generally think that cash flow is more important than accounting measures of profit, so we are fairly comfortable with the dividend at this level.
Looking forward, earnings per share could 31.9% over the next year if the trend of the last few years can't be broken. While this means that the company will be unprofitable, we generally believe cash flows are more important, and the current cash payout ratio is quite healthy, which gives us comfort.
Dividend Volatility
The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2011, the dividend has gone from US$1.21 to US$0.16. This works out to a decline of approximately 87% over that time. Declining dividends isn't generally what we look for as they can indicate that the company is running into some challenges.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
Given that dividend payments have been shrinking like a glacier in a warming world, we need to check if there are some bright spots on the horizon. QBE Insurance Group's earnings per share has shrunk at 32% a year over the past five years. Dividend payments are likely to come under some pressure unless EPS can pull out of the nosedive it is in.
The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable
In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think QBE Insurance Group's payments are rock solid. 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 don't think QBE Insurance Group is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
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. Without at least some growth in earnings per share over time, the dividend will eventually come under pressure either from competition or inflation. Businesses can change though, and we think it would make sense to see what analysts are forecasting for the company. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high performing dividend stock.
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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