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 1 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' health. The FCF payout ratio measures the percent of free cash flow devoted toward paying the dividend. Again, a ratio greater than 80% could be a red flag.
Let's examine Broadcom
Company |
Yield |
Interest Coverage |
EPS Payout Ratio |
FCF Payout Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|
Broadcom |
1.1% |
NM |
16.7% |
64.0% |
Altera |
0.5% |
265.2 |
8.6% |
11.7% |
Maxim Integrated Products |
3.4% |
77.6 |
60.5% |
66.7% |
Texas Instruments |
1.6% |
NM |
18.8% |
31.6% |
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. NM = not meaningful; Broadcom and Texas Instruments had no interest expense during the period.
Broadcom has no debt and as such has no interest expense to cover. While its EPS payout ratio is a low 16.7%, the company's FCF payout ratio is a higher 64%. Still, that level is easily manageable, and you shouldn't have to worry that Broadcom will need to cut its dividend anytime soon. The company has been doing well but doesn't look particularly cheap.
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 Broadcom to My Watchlist.
- Add Altera to My Watchlist.
- Add Maxim Integrated Products to My Watchlist.
- Add Texas Instruments to My Watchlist.