Should Income Investors Look At Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) Before Its Ex-Dividend?
Readers hoping to buy Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is important as the process of settlement involves two full business days. So if you miss that date, you would not show up on the company's books on the record date. Accordingly, Analog Devices investors that purchase the stock on or after the 27th of May will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 9th of June.
The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.76 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$3.04 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Analog Devices has a trailing yield of 1.9% on the current stock price of $161.55. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Analog Devices's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.
See our latest analysis for Analog Devices
If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. It paid out 84% of its earnings as dividends last year, which is not unreasonable, but limits reinvestment in the business and leaves the dividend vulnerable to a business downturn. We'd be concerned if earnings began to decline. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. Fortunately, it paid out only 43% of its free cash flow in the past year.
It's positive to see that Analog Devices's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.
Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.
Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?
Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Analog Devices, with earnings per share up 2.5% on average over the last five years. A payout ratio of 84% looks like a tacit signal from management that reinvestment opportunities in the business are low. In line with limited earnings growth in recent years, this is not the most appealing combination.
The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Analog Devices has delivered 12% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders.
Final Takeaway
Is Analog Devices an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? While earnings per share growth has been modest, Analog Devices's dividend payouts are around an average level; without a sharp change in earnings we feel that the dividend is likely somewhat sustainable. Pleasingly the company paid out a conservatively low percentage of its free cash flow. While it does have some good things going for it, we're a bit ambivalent and it would take more to convince us of Analog Devices's dividend merits.
While it's tempting to invest in Analog Devices for the dividends alone, you should always be mindful of the risks involved. Our analysis shows 4 warning signs for Analog Devices and you should be aware of these before buying any shares.
If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks.
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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.
