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Trustpower (NZSE:TPW) Is Paying Out A Larger Dividend Than Last Year

The board of Trustpower Limited (NZSE:TPW) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend on the 18th of June to NZ$0.22. This will take the dividend yield from 4.1% to 4.8%, providing a nice boost to shareholder returns.

See our latest analysis for Trustpower

Trustpower Doesn't Earn Enough To Cover Its Payments

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Based on the last payment, the dividend made up 90% of cash flows, but a higher proportion of net income. While the cash payout ratio isn't necessarily a cause for concern, the company is probably focusing more on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business.

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Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 151.3% over the next year. If the dividend continues on its recent course, the payout ratio in 12 months could be 147%, which is a bit high and could start applying pressure to the balance sheet.

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historic-dividend

Trustpower's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

Trustpower has been paying dividends for a while, but the track record isn't stellar. This makes us cautious about the consistency of the dividend over a full economic cycle. The first annual payment during the last 5 years was NZ$0.32 in 2016, and the most recent fiscal year payment was NZ$0.35. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 2.1% a year over that time. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited.

Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Over the past five years, it looks as though Trustpower's EPS has declined at around 13% a year. This steep decline can indicate that the business is going through a tough time, which could constrain its ability to pay a larger dividend each year in the future. On the bright side, earnings are predicted to gain some ground over the next year, but until this turns into a pattern we wouldn't be feeling too comfortable.

Trustpower's Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable

Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Trustpower will make a great income stock. The payments are bit high to be considered sustainable, and the track record isn't the best. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. To that end, Trustpower has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is potentially serious) we think you should know about. 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. 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.