Yahoo Finance Costamare (NYSE:CMRE) Is Paying Out A Dividend Of $0.115
Costamare Inc. (NYSE:CMRE) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.115 per share on the 7th of November. Including this payment, the dividend yield on the stock will be 4.9%, which is a modest boost for shareholders' returns.
View our latest analysis for Costamare
Costamare's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings
If it is predictable over a long period, even low dividend yields can be attractive. Based on the last payment, Costamare was earning enough to cover the dividend, but free cash flows weren't positive. With the company not bringing in any cash, paying out to shareholders is bound to become difficult at some point.
If the trend of the last few years continues, EPS will grow by 58.8% over the next 12 months. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 13% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
Dividend Volatility
Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2012, the annual payment back then was $1.08, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $0.46. The dividend has shrunk at around 8.2% a year during that period. Declining dividends isn't generally what we look for as they can indicate that the company is running into some challenges.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
Given that the track record hasn't been stellar, we really want to see earnings per share growing over time. Costamare has impressed us by growing EPS at 59% per year over the past five years. A low payout ratio gives the company a lot of flexibility, and growing earnings also make it very easy for it to grow the dividend.
Our Thoughts On Costamare's Dividend
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Costamare's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. While the low payout ratio is redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.
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 2 warning signs for Costamare that you should be aware of before investing. Is Costamare not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.
Join A Paid User Research Session
You’ll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
