Yahoo Finance Hess Midstream's (NYSE:HESM) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's
Hess Midstream LP (NYSE:HESM) will increase its dividend on the 13th of May to US$0.55. This makes the dividend yield 7.1%, which is above the industry average.
View our latest analysis for Hess Midstream
Hess Midstream Doesn't Earn Enough To Cover Its Payments
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Based on the last payment, the dividend made up 92% of cash flows, but a higher proportion of net income. While the cash payout ratio isn't necessarily a cause for concern, the company is probably focusing more on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 16.5%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could get very high, which probably can't continue without starting to put some pressure on the balance sheet.
Hess Midstream Doesn't Have A Long Payment History
It is great to see that Hess Midstream has been paying a stable dividend for a number of years now, however we want to be a bit cautious about whether this will remain true through a full economic cycle. Since 2017, the first annual payment was US$1.20, compared to the most recent full-year payment of US$2.20. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 13% per annum over that time. Hess Midstream has been growing its dividend quite rapidly, which is exciting. However, the short payment history makes us question whether this performance will persist across a full market cycle.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Let's not jump to conclusions as things might not be as good as they appear on the surface. Hess Midstream's earnings per share has shrunk at 41% a year over the past five years. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective. Even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough. However, the next year is actually looking up, with earnings set to rise. We would just wait until it becomes a pattern before getting too excited.
Hess Midstream's Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable
Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. The payments are bit high to be considered sustainable, and the track record isn't the best. We don't think Hess Midstream is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've identified 3 warning signs for Hess Midstream (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing. Is Hess Midstream not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out 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.
