How do you know if a dividend yield is good?
What Is a Good Dividend Yield? Yields from 2% to 6% are generally considered to be a good dividend yield, but there are plenty of factors to consider when deciding if a stock's yield makes it a good investment. Your own investment goals should also play a big role in deciding what a good dividend yield is for you.
As a rule of thumb, dividend yields of between 2% and 5% are considered strong, and anything above this can be a good buy but may also come with risks attached.
All you have to do is divide the annual dividend by the current stock price, and you'll get the dividend yield. Put into percentage terms, this means the dividend yield for Company A is 2.22%.
Dividend investors should seek out companies with long-term profitability and earnings growth expectations between 5% and 15%. Companies should boast the cash flow generation necessary to support their dividend-payment programs. Investors should avoid companies with debt-to-equity ratios higher than 2.00.
The dividend yield measures how much income has been received relative to the share price; a higher yield is more attractive, while a lower yield can make a stock seem less competitive relative to its industry.
“Companies that have consistently increased their dividends tend to be more stable, higher quality businesses, which historically have weathered downturns and are more likely to have the ability to pay dividends consistently.”
Very High. A payout ratio that is between 75% to 95% is considered very high. It implies that the company is bordering towards declaring almost all the money it makes as dividends. This increases the risk of the company cutting its dividends because our formula is forward looking.
What Does the Dividend Yield Tell You? The dividend yield is a financial ratio that tells you the percentage of a company's share price that it pays out in dividends each year. For example, if a company has a $20 share price and pays a dividend of $1 per year, its dividend yield would be 5%.
- 3M Company (MMM) 3M manufactures a variety of products that are used by businesses and consumers alike. ...
- Verizon Communications (VZ) ...
- Dow Inc. ...
- Chevron (CVX) ...
- International Business Machines (IBM) ...
- Cisco Systems (CSCO) ...
- Coca-Cola (KO) ...
- Amgen (AMGN)
The dividend yield ratio helps compare a company's stock price with its dividends. It provides an idea of how well the company distributes its profit to its shareholders. A high dividend yield ratio indicates that the company is distributing a better share of its profit to its shareholders.
Is low dividend yield good?
The Sharpe ratio confirms that the high dividend yield portfolio performed considerably better than low dividend yield portfolio. The Treynor ratio is a risk-adjusted measure of return based on systematic risk.
The main difference between dividend rate and dividend yield is that dividend yield expresses the returns on the stock as a percentage of its market price, while dividend rate shows the total dividends paid per share.
Don't chase high dividend yields
If a high or rising yield is due to a shrinking share price, that's a bad sign and could indicate that a dividend cut is on the horizon. If a rising dividend yield is due to rising profits, on the other hand, that's a much more auspicious sign.
- Dividend payments aren't guaranteed.
- Dividend income is taxable.
- Interest rates can affect dividend payments.
Sometimes high yield can be misleading since it may indicate a falling stock price instead of an increase in dividend payment. This indicates that the company may have financial difficulties, or the financial market may perceive the stock as less valuable.
- Exxon Mobil XOM.
- Verizon Communications VZ.
- Philip Morris International PM.
- PepsiCo PEP.
- Altria Group MO.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb BMY.
- Medtronic MDT.
- Gilead Sciences GILD.
An abnormally high dividend yield could be a red flag. Dividend payout ratio: This is the dividend as a percentage of a company's earnings. If a company earns $1 per share in net income and pays a $0.50-per-share dividend, then the payout ratio is 50%.
A dividend trap is where the stock's dividend and price decrease over time due to high payout ratios, high levels of debt, or the difference between profits and cash. These situations commonly produce an unsupported but attractive yield.
Generally speaking, double-digit dividend yields are indeed too good to be true. They are often either being paid by unstable companies, or simply represent too much of a company's earnings to be sustainable. Of course, there are some exceptions.
Stock | Forward dividend yield |
---|---|
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) | 3.5% |
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | 3% |
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) | 2.3% |
Home Depot Inc. (HD) | 2.4% |
What is the king of dividends?
Dividend Kings have a long history of delivering market-beating returns for investors and proving to be generally steady, safe holdings. A Dividend King is a company that's grown its dividend payment for at least 50 consecutive years.
Stock | Market Capitalization | 12-month Trailing Dividend Yield |
---|---|---|
Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) | $905 million | 16.5% |
Gladstone Investment Corp. (GAIN) | $500 million | 6.9% |
Modiv Industrial Inc. (MDV) | $112 million | 7.7% |
LTC Properties Inc. (LTC) | $1.3 billion | 7.2% |
Dividend Yield Ratio Across Industries
The average dividend yield for several industries is as follows: Basic materials industry: 4.92% Financial services industry: 4.17% Healthcare industry: 2.28%
So, what counts as a “good” dividend payout ratio? Generally speaking, a dividend payout ratio of 30-50% is considered healthy, while anything over 50% could be unsustainable.
Comparing Yield and Interest Rate:
Yield represents the total earnings from an investment, including interest. Interest rate is the percentage of the amount borrowed or paid, over a principal amount. Yield typically includes the amount of interest earned. Interest is calculated independently of yield.
References
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/accounting/dividend-payout-ratio-formula/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-dividends-breaking-down-tech-151828569.html
- https://www.amttraining.com/knowledgebank/accounting/what-is-dividend-coverage-ratio/
- https://m1.com/articles-1/qualified-dividends/
- https://help.quicko.com/support/solutions/articles/84000352001-report-dividend-income
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/valuetrap.asp
- https://www.suredividend.com/highest-yielding-monthly-dividend-stocks/
- https://www.usbank.com/financialiq/invest-your-money/investment-strategies/investments-yield-vs-return.html
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/best-dividend-stocks/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/082515/do-penny-stocks-pay-dividends.asp
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/do-this-for-$4000-in-dividend-income-every-month
- https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/types-of-stocks/dividend-stocks/dividend-kings/
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/highest-dividend-stocks-in-dow/
- https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc404
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/do-you-pay-taxes-on-dividends-reinvested
- https://www.axosbank.com/Tools/Calculators/APY-Calculator
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/investing/how-to-calculate-dividend-yield/
- https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/investment-products/stocks/dividends-and-taxes
- https://www.superfastcpa.com/where-do-dividends-appear-in-the-financial-statements/
- https://smartasset.com/investing/how-to-calculate-dividend-yield
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/12-best-dividend-stocks-passive-061117994.html
- https://aliceblueonline.com/dividend-rate-vs-dividend-yield/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/reasons-to-avoid-dividend-stocks/
- https://www.eastonlawoffices.com/blog/what-is-the-three-second-rule-in-driving/
- https://www.ubt.com/learning-center/blogs/weighing-pros-and-cons-dividends
- https://scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstream/handle/11714/2408/Cai_unr_0139M_11688.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- https://aliceblueonline.com/dividend-payout-ratio-meaning/
- https://www.charles-stanley.co.uk/insights/commentary/how-much-tax-on-dividend-income
- https://www.dummies.com/article/business-careers-money/personal-finance/investing/investment-vehicles/dividends/how-to-understand-dividend-yield-190542/
- https://www.trading212.com/learn/dividends/dividend-rate-yield-payout
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/payoutratio.asp
- https://www.wallstreetzen.com/stocks/us/nasdaq/amzn/dividends
- https://www.dividendinvestor.com/the-6-greatest-dividend-investors-of-all-time/
- https://money.usnews.com/investing/articles/how-to-analyze-a-stocks-dividend
- https://groww.in/p/dividend-payout-ratio
- https://www.litrg.org.uk/savings-property/tax-savings-and-investments/tax-dividends
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/07/13/ask-a-fool-is-a-10-dividend-yield-too-good-to-be-t.aspx
- https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/about-us/faq/when-does-the-company-pay-dividends
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-money-live-entirely-off-204845865.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/y/yield.asp
- https://www.stoddardfinancial.net/dividend-versus-growth-investments/
- https://www.vectorvest.com/blog/retirement/how-to-retire-on-dividends/
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/how-do-i-avoid-paying-tax-on-dividends
- https://help.uniwide.co.uk/how-to-pay-yourself-a-salary-or-dividends-as-a-director-of-your-own-limited-company/
- https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/use-yield-keyword-instead-return-keyword-python/
- https://medium.com/crypto-and-money/7-proven-ways-to-make-5-000-9-000-per-month-in-passive-income-1aafbf025154
- https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/how-to-make-money-dividends/
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/low-dividend-payout-real-world-factors.html
- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/yield-to
- https://www.hl.co.uk/help/income-and-loyalty-bonus/income/interest-funds/what-is-the-difference-between-dividends-and-interest
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yield
- https://www.dictionary.com/browse/yield
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-dividend-payout-ratio-and-dividend-per-share
- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dividend
- https://money.usnews.com/investing/articles/best-monthly-dividend-stocks-to-buy-now
- https://www.simplysafedividends.com/world-of-dividends/posts/3-top-25-high-dividend-stocks-yielding-4-to-10
- https://www.koyfin.com/company/aapl/dividends/
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/03/23/3-stocks-paid-a-dividend-for-140-consecutive-years/
- https://testbook.com/key-differences/difference-between-dividend-yield-and-dividend-payout-ratio
- https://www.shiksha.com/online-courses/articles/dividend-yield-calculation-advantages-and-disadvantages/
- https://www.theaccountancy.co.uk/limited-company/dividends/how-often-can-i-take-dividends-from-my-limited-company-90705.html
- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dividend-income
- https://www.robomarkets.com/blog/stock-market/top-stocks/top-5-sp-500-stocks-with-the-highest-dividend-yield/
- https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/investing/what-is-dividend-yield/
- https://www.shiksha.com/online-courses/articles/dividend-yield-vs-dividend-rate/
- https://gocardless.com/en-us/guides/posts/dividend-payout-ratio/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/equities/investing-in-stocks-with-dividends-vs-stocks-without-dividends/
- https://blog.safecu.org/whats-the-difference-between-interest/dividend-rates-apy-and-apye
- https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/10-best-dividend-stocks
- http://travelwithcareauburn.com/know-when-to-go/
- https://www.koyfin.com/company/ko/dividends/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/accounting/dividend-yield-formula/
- https://www.carboncollective.co/sustainable-investing/dividend-payout-ratio
- https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/types-of-stocks/dividend-stocks/how-to-invest-in-dividend-stocks/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yield_sign
- https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/aapl/dividends
- https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/it-may-be-time-to-consider-dividend-paying-stocks
- https://lyonswealth.com/blog-details/how-much-money-do-i-need-to-invest-to-make-3000
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/what-are-dividends/
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/01/15/heres-how-investing-50-per-week-can-create-50000-i/
- https://viewpoint.pwc.com/dt/us/en/pwc/accounting_guides/financing_transactio/financing_transactio_US/chapter_4_common_sto_US/44_dividends_US.html
- https://www.shiksha.com/online-courses/articles/dividend-payout-ratio-calculation-and-impact/
- https://www.dividend.com/dividend-education/what-is-an-ideal-payout-ratio/
- https://www.sec.gov/files/ib_high-yield.pdf
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/qualifieddividend.asp
- https://www.dividendmax.com/united-states/nyse/beverages/coca-cola-co/dividends
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082015/3-biggest-misconceptions-dividend-stocks.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/060116/4-ratios-evaluate-dividend-stocks.asp
- https://www.fool.com/terms/d/dividend-yield/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/fundamental/03/102903.asp
- https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/yield
- https://www.wallstreetprep.com/knowledge/dividend-payout-ratio/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/042315/top-dividend-stocks-how-pick-them.asp
- https://www.gobankingrates.com/investing/strategy/dividends-vs-interest/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/11/due-dilligence-on-dividends.asp
- https://testbook.com/key-differences/difference-between-yield-and-interest-rate
- https://www.fool.com/terms/d/dividend-payout-ratio/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/090415/do-dividends-go-balance-sheet.asp
- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/yield
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stockdividend.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dividendyield.asp
- https://www.deskera.com/blog/dividend-yield-ratio/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/how-to-invest-dividend-stocks
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/dividend-yield/
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/03/06/here-are-my-top-10-ultra-high-yield-dividend-stock/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-10-ultra-high-yield-103000233.html
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/genius-ways-1-000-month-105500970.html
- https://www.quora.com/How-many-dividends-should-one-million-dollars-generate-to-be-reasonably-well
- https://trdsf.com/blogs/news/what-is-a-yield-sign
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/500-every-month-passive-income-130041730.html
- https://money.usnews.com/investing/articles/dividend-stocks-to-buy-and-hold-forever
- https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/yield
- https://www.ml.com/articles/what-dividend-stocks-can-offer.html