Yahoo Finance Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of $0.12
The board of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 14th of July, with investors receiving $0.12 per share. This means the annual payment is 3.1% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Prior to this announcement, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 134.1%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 30%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Is Still Building Its Track Record
The dividend's track record has been pretty solid, but with only 7 years of history we want to see a few more years of history before making any solid conclusions. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.22 in 2016 to the most recent total annual payment of $0.48. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 12% a year over that time. It is always nice to see strong dividend growth, but with such a short payment history we wouldn't be inclined to rely on it until a longer track record can be developed.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. However, things aren't all that rosy. Hewlett Packard Enterprise's earnings per share has shrunk at 16% a year over the past five years. Dividend payments are likely to come under some pressure unless EPS can pull out of the nosedive it is in. Over the next year, however, earnings are actually predicted to rise, but we would still be cautious until a track record of earnings growth can be built.
Our Thoughts On Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Dividend
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Hewlett Packard Enterprise's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. In the past, the payments have been unstable, but over the short term the dividend could be reliable, with the company generating enough cash to cover it. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.
Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 5 warning signs for Hewlett Packard Enterprise that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield 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.
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