Yahoo Finance Lindsay (NYSE:LNN) Is Increasing Its Dividend To US$0.34
The board of Lindsay Corporation (NYSE:LNN) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend by 3.0% on the 31st of August to US$0.34. Although the dividend is now higher, the yield is only 1.0%, which is below the industry average.
View our latest analysis for Lindsay
Lindsay's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions
While yield is important, another factor to consider about a company's dividend is whether the current payout levels are feasible. Prior to this announcement, Lindsay's earnings easily covered the dividend, but free cash flows were negative. We think that cash flows should take priority over earnings, so this is definitely a worry for the dividend going forward.
Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 35.4% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 21% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.
Lindsay Has A Solid Track Record
The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from US$0.36 in 2012 to the most recent annual payment of US$1.32. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 14% a year over that time. We can see that payments have shown some very nice upward momentum without faltering, which provides some reassurance that future payments will also be reliable.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Lindsay has impressed us by growing EPS at 16% per year over the past five years. Growth in EPS bodes well for the dividend, as does the low payout ratio that the company is currently reporting.
In Summary
In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Lindsay's payments are rock solid. While Lindsay is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. We don't think Lindsay 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. For example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Lindsay (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.
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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.
