The next step involves reviewing the trends in fundamentals and dividends, in order to determine if they are sustainable. Last but not least, we also review valuations, in order to determine if the companies are worth purchasing today.
The companies include:
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) manufactures and sells cigarettes, other tobacco products, and other nicotine-containing products. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 6.50% to $1.14/share. This marked the tenth consecutive annual dividend increase for this future dividend achiever. The company has managed to grow its quarterly distribution by 9.50%/year. Earnings per share grew from $2.75/share in 2007 to $3.88/share in 2017. Philip Morris International is expected to earn $5.21/share in 2018. Unfortunately, the company has been unable to grow earnings per share since 2012. While the shares look attractively valued at 15 times forward earnings and spot a high yield of 5.70%, the lack of earnings growth and the high forward payout ratio of 87.50% is concerning. Without growth in earnings, future dividend growth will be limited. In addition, high payout ratios increase the risk of a dividend cut. As a result, I view the stock as a hold today. I view Altria (MO) as a more attractive tobacco investment.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW),operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 17.10% to 48 cents/share. This marked the 56th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend king. Over the past decade, the company has managed to grow dividends at an annual rate of 19.30%/year. Over the past decade, the company has managed to grow earnings per share by 8.20%/year to $4.09/share in 2018. Lowe's is expected to earn $5.45/share in 2019. Right now, the stock is richly valued at 18.40 times forward earnings and yields 2%.
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (HP) primarily engages in drilling oil and gas wells for exploration and production companies. The company operates through U.S. Land, Offshore, and International Land segments. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 1.40% to 71 cents/share. This dividend champion has raised distributions for 46 years in a row. The ten year dividend growth rate is 31.60%/year. However, the rate of dividend increases since 2014 very slow, due to the slowdown in the energy sector. The stock is overvalued, given the forward earnings of $0.10/share for 2018. This is a far cry from the highest earnings of $6.65/share, achieved in 2013. In addition, the dividend doesn’t seem sustainable either. The new yield is 4.30%, though I do not believe it to be sustainable at the current rate of earnings. It is challenging to value companies with cyclical business models, because they earn most at the top of the cycle, which makes them appear cheaper than they are. At the bottom of the cycle, most of these companies tend to have very low earnings ( or even losses), which makes them to appear more expensive than their intrinsic value.
Relevant Articles:
- The ten year dividend growth requirement
- Not all P/E ratios are created equal
- Look beyond P/E ratios dividend investors
- Getting Started – The Hardest Part About Dividend Investing
- 39 Dividend Champions To Consider