Yahoo Finance Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB) Is Increasing Its Dividend To $0.48
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 19th of December to $0.48. This will take the annual payment to 4.5% of the stock price, which is above what most companies in the industry pay.
See our latest analysis for Kontoor Brands
Kontoor Brands' Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions
While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Prior to this announcement, Kontoor Brands' dividend was only 43% of earnings, however it was paying out 178% of free cash flows. While the company may be more focused on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business at this time, we think that a cash payout ratio this high might expose the dividend to being cut if the business ran into some challenges.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 16.6%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 45%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
Kontoor Brands' Dividend Has Lacked Consistency
The track record isn't the longest, but we are already seeing a bit of instability in the payments. Since 2019, the dividend has gone from $2.24 total annually to $1.92. The dividend has shrunk at around 5.0% a year during that period. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
Dividends have been going in the wrong direction, so we definitely want to see a different trend in the earnings per share. Kontoor Brands has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 16% per annum. While on an earnings basis, this company looks appealing as an income stock, the cash payout ratio still makes us cautious.
Our Thoughts On Kontoor Brands' Dividend
Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Just as an example, we've come across 3 warning signs for Kontoor Brands you should be aware of, and 2 of them are a bit unpleasant. Is Kontoor Brands 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
