First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) will pay a dividend of $0.24 on the 17th of March. Based on this payment, the dividend yield will be 3.5%, which is fairly typical for the industry.
See our latest analysis for First Financial Bancorp
We aren’t too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time.
First Financial Bancorp has a long history of paying out dividends, with its current track record at a minimum of 10 years. Taking data from its last earnings report, calculating for the company’s payout ratio shows 39%, which means that First Financial Bancorp would be able to pay its last dividend without pressure on the balance sheet.
Looking forward, EPS is forecast to rise by 19.6% over the next 3 years. Analysts estimate the future payout ratio will be 36% over the same time period, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn’t look great with cuts in the past. Since 2015, the dividend has gone from $0.72 total annually to $0.96. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 2.9% per annum over that time. The dividend has seen some fluctuations in the past, so even though the dividend was raised this year, we should remember that it has been cut in the past.
With a relatively unstable dividend, it’s even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Earnings have grown at around 3.5% a year for the past five years, which isn’t massive but still better than seeing them shrink. While growth may be thin on the ground, First Financial Bancorp could always pay out a higher proportion of earnings to increase shareholder returns.
In summary, we are pleased with the dividend remaining consistent, and we think there is a good chance of this continuing in the future. While the payout ratios are a good sign, we are less enthusiastic about the company’s dividend record. Taking all of this into consideration, the dividend looks viable moving forward, but investors should be mindful that the company has pushed the boundaries of sustainability in the past and may do so again.
It’s important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. 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 2 warning signs for First Financial Bancorp 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.
