Yahoo Finance Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO) Is Due To Pay A Dividend Of CA$1.06
The board of Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO) has announced that it will pay a dividend of CA$1.06 per share on the 26th of November. This means the dividend yield will be fairly typical at 3.3%.
View our latest analysis for Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions
Solid dividend yields are great, but they only really help us if the payment is sustainable. Bank of Montreal is quite easily earning enough to cover the dividend, however it is being let down by weak cash flows. In general, we consider cash flow to be more important than earnings, so we would be cautious about relying on the sustainability of this dividend.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 14.1%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 36% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
Bank of Montreal Has A Solid Track Record
The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. The first annual payment during the last 10 years was CA$2.80 in 2011, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CA$4.24. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 4.2% per annum over that time. While the consistency in the dividend payments is impressive, we think the relatively slow rate of growth is less attractive.
The Dividend Has Growth Potential
Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. It's encouraging to see Bank of Montreal has been growing its earnings per share at 9.7% a year over the past five years. Growth in EPS bodes well for the dividend, as does the low payout ratio that the company is currently reporting.
Our Thoughts On Bank of Montreal's Dividend
Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We don't think Bank of Montreal is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 11 analysts we track are forecasting for Bank of Montreal for free with public analyst estimates for the company. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of strong dividend payers.
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.
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