As a dividend investor, it pays to follow how much of a company's money goes toward funding its dividend. A nice yield now won't matter much if the company can't keep making those payments going forward.
Here, we'll highlight a given company and its closest competitors to see just how safe their dividends are, with a little help from three crucial tools:
- The interest coverage ratio, or earnings before interest and taxes, divided by interest expense. The interest coverage ratio measures a company's ability to pay the interest on its debt. An interest coverage ratio less than 1.5 is questionable; a number less than one means that the company is not bringing in enough money to cover its interest expenses.
- The EPS payout ratio, or dividends per share divided by earnings per share. The EPS payout ratio measures the percentage of earnings that go toward paying the dividend. A ratio greater than 80% is worrisome.
- The FCF payout ratio, or dividends per share divided by free cash flow per share. Earnings alone don't always paint a complete picture of a business's health. The FCF payout ratio measures the percent of free cash flow devoted toward paying the dividend. Again, a ratio greater 80% could be a red flag.
Let's examine Oracle
Company |
Yield |
Interest Coverage |
EPS Payout Ratio |
FCF Payout Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oracle |
0.7% |
14.5 |
13.9% |
11.3% |
Cisco Systems |
1.5% |
13.7 |
18.8% |
6.2% |
Qualcomm |
1.5% |
41.4 |
33.0% |
70.9% |
Microsoft |
2.7% |
115.6 |
24.2% |
31.4% |
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.
With an interest coverage ratio of 14.5, Oracle covers every $1 in interest expenses with $14.50 in operating earnings. Given its EPS payout ratio and FCF payout ratio are both less than 15%, you shouldn't have to worry that Oracle will need to cut its dividend anytime soon.
Another tool for better investing
Most investors don't keep tabs on their companies. That's a mistake. If you take the time to read past the headlines and crack a filing now and then, you're in a much better position to spot potential trouble early. We can help you keep tabs on your companies with My Watchlist, our free, personalized stock-tracking service.
- Add Oracle to My Watchlist.
- Add Cisco Systems to My Watchlist.
- Add Qualcomm to My Watchlist.
- Add Microsoft to My Watchlist.