Yahoo Finance Werner Enterprises' (NASDAQ:WERN) Dividend Will Be Increased To US$0.12
The board of Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 20th of July to US$0.12. Although the dividend is now higher, the yield is only 0.9%, which is below the industry average.
View our latest analysis for Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises' Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings
The dividend yield is a little bit low, but sustainability of the payments is also an important part of evaluating an income stock. Prior to this announcement, Werner Enterprises' dividend was only 13% of earnings, however it was paying out 326% of free cash flows. The business might be trying to strike a balance between returning cash to shareholders and reinvesting back into the business, but this high of a payout ratio could definitely force the dividend to be cut if the company runs into a bit of a tough spot.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 20.4%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 13% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.
Dividend Volatility
Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was US$1.45 in 2011, and the most recent fiscal year payment was US$0.48. Dividend payments have fallen sharply, down 67% over that time. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
With a relatively unstable dividend, and a poor history of shrinking dividends, it's even more important to see if EPS is growing. Werner Enterprises has impressed us by growing EPS at 11% per year over the past five years. Werner Enterprises definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio.
Our Thoughts On Werner Enterprises' Dividend
In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Werner Enterprises' payments are rock solid. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Werner Enterprises that you should be aware of before investing. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a solid dividend.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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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