Yahoo Finance Zimmer Biomet Holdings (NYSE:ZBH) Will Pay A Dividend Of US$0.24
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ZBH) has announced that it will pay a dividend of US$0.24 per share on the 29th of July. Based on this payment, the dividend yield on the company's stock will be 4.0%, which is an attractive boost to shareholder returns.
See our latest analysis for Zimmer Biomet Holdings
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Doesn't Earn Enough To Cover Its Payments
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Prior to this announcement, Zimmer Biomet Holdings' dividend made up quite a large proportion of earnings but only 20% of free cash flows. Since the dividend is just paying out cash to shareholders, we care more about the cash payout ratio from which we can see plenty is being left over for reinvestment in the business.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 156.4%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could reach 140%, which probably can't continue putting some pressure on the balance sheet.
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Has A Solid Track Record
The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was US$0.72 in 2012, and the most recent fiscal year payment was US$0.96. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 2.9% per annum over that time. Although we can't deny that the dividend has been remarkably stable in the past, the growth has been pretty muted.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. However, things aren't all that rosy. Over the past five years, it looks as though Zimmer Biomet Holdings' EPS has declined at around 12% a year. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective. Even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough. It's not all bad news though, as the earnings are predicted to rise over the next 12 months - we would just be a bit cautious until this becomes a long term trend.
Our Thoughts On Zimmer Biomet Holdings' Dividend
Overall, a consistent dividend is a good thing, and we think that Zimmer Biomet Holdings has the ability to continue this into the future. While the payments look sustainable for now, earnings have been shrinking so the dividend could come under pressure in the future. This looks like it could be a good dividend stock going forward, but we would note that the payout ratio has been at higher levels in the past so it could happen again.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For instance, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Zimmer Biomet Holdings that investors should take into consideration. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield 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.
