Like many U.S. investors, I tend to focus my stock-searching time and energy on domestic companies. But it might be time to re-focus and take a look Down Under. Australia's market is quite similar to the U.S. market. It offers low currency risk and a stable economic environment, and it also happens to be home to a handful of dividend payers with yields of more than 4%.
The task is the same whether I'm looking at domestic firms or Australian companies: separating the true values from the companies with dividend coverage problems or declining businesses. With that in mind, let's dig into five Australian contestants.
Telecom and packaging
Like many foreign telecoms, Telstra
Packaging and paper company Amcor
Banking
U.S. banks with yields higher than 4% -- such as Citigroup
Australia & New Zealand Banking
Metric |
TTM |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Return on Equity (ROE) |
18.2% |
17% |
17.6% |
18.9% |
Return on Assets (ROA) |
1.1% |
1.1% |
1.2% |
1.3% |
Interest Income Growth |
12.6% |
10.4% |
21.9% |
7.3% |
Earnings Growth |
16.2% |
13.8% |
17.1% |
13.5% |
Payout Ratio |
54.6% |
57% |
56% |
55.5% |
Net Interest Margin % |
n/a |
2.4% |
2.5% |
2.7% |
Westpac Banking
Metric |
TTM |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
---|---|---|---|---|
ROE |
22% |
21.8% |
23.4% |
18.3% |
ROA |
1.1% |
1.1% |
1.2% |
1% |
Interest Income Growth |
11.6% |
10.3% |
9.9% |
2.9% |
Earnings Growth |
6.1% |
1.5% |
39.7% |
(23.1%) |
Payout Ratio |
53.2% |
50.9% |
49.1% |
52.3% |
Net Interest Margin % |
n/a |
2.5% |
2.5% |
2.6% |
National Australia Bank
Metric |
TTM |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
---|---|---|---|---|
ROE |
11.7% |
14.5% |
11.1% |
15.4% |
ROA |
0.7% |
0.9% |
0.7% |
0.9% |
Interest Income Growth |
10.2% |
(1.5%) |
(3.1%) |
2.7% |
Earnings Growth |
(6.8%) |
40.5% |
(24.2%) |
6.1% |
Payout Ratio |
80.9% |
62.8% |
71.1% |
64.4% |
Net Interest Margin % |
n/a |
2.2% |
2.4% |
2.5% |
The consistency and better performance at Westpac Banking and Australia & New Zealand Banking stand out. What also stands out is the declining net interest margin that all of the banks are experiencing, and it's something U.S. banks have been struggling with as well. Recently the trend has continued, as rates in Australia were raised in May. In fact, Westpac reported a net interest margin of 2.42% over the past six months. It appears, however, that Australian rates -- like U.S. rates -- are likely to remain stable in the near term.
Foolish final thoughts
I have yet to perform a detailed valuation on any of these Australian banks, but I am most curious about Westpac and Australia & New Zealand, and I believe both have some long-term potential. The concern with picking up an Australian bank is the country's heavy reliance on natural resources and other commodities. Like the United States, Australia is battling inflation, and high oil prices are putting a dent in the country's growth. And a slowing economic environment is just tough for everyone. That said, healthy financials and yields over 4% -- and in the case of Westpac, 5% -- are good places to start looking for investment ideas.
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At the time of publication, Nathan Parmelee had no financial interest in any of the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.