Yahoo Finance LifeWorks (TSE:LWRK) Will Pay A Dividend Of CA$0.065
LifeWorks Inc.'s (TSE:LWRK) investors are due to receive a payment of CA$0.065 per share on 15th of February. Based on this payment, the dividend yield on the company's stock will be 2.8%, which is an attractive boost to shareholder returns.
View our latest analysis for LifeWorks
LifeWorks Might Find It Hard To Continue The Dividend
If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. LifeWorks is not generating a profit, but its free cash flows easily cover the dividend, leaving plenty for reinvestment in the business. We generally think that cash flow is more important than accounting measures of profit, so we are fairly comfortable with the dividend at this level.
Looking forward, earnings per share could 14.0% over the next year if the trend of the last few years can't be broken. This means that the company will be unprofitable, but cash flows are more important when considering the dividend and as the current cash payout ratio is pretty healthy, we don't think there is too much reason to worry.
LifeWorks Has A Solid Track Record
Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The most recent annual payment of CA$0.78 is about the same as the first annual payment 10 years ago. While the consistency in the dividend payments is impressive, we think the relatively slow rate of growth is less attractive.
The Dividend Has Limited Growth Potential
Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. However, initial appearances might be deceiving. LifeWorks' earnings per share has shrunk at 14% 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.
In Summary
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about LifeWorks' payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The company is generating plenty of cash, but we still think the dividend is a bit high for comfort. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've identified 3 warning signs for LifeWorks (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a solid dividend.
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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.
