Yahoo Finance A-Mark Precious Metals (NASDAQ:AMRK) Is Due To Pay A Dividend Of $0.20
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMRK) will pay a dividend of $0.20 on the 29th of April. This makes the dividend yield 2.4%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.
See our latest analysis for A-Mark Precious Metals
A-Mark Precious Metals' Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Prior to this announcement, A-Mark Precious Metals' earnings easily covered the dividend, but free cash flows were negative. We think that cash flows should take priority over earnings, so this is definitely a worry for the dividend going forward.
Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 29.6% over the next year. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 17% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
A-Mark Precious Metals' Dividend Has Lacked Consistency
It's comforting to see that A-Mark Precious Metals has been paying a dividend for a number of years now, however it has been cut at least once in that time. If the company cuts once, it definitely isn't argument against the possibility of it cutting in the future. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.10 in 2015 to the most recent total annual payment of $0.80. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 26% per annum over that time. It is great to see strong growth in the dividend payments, but cuts are concerning as it may indicate the payout policy is too ambitious.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. It's encouraging to see that A-Mark Precious Metals has been growing its earnings per share at 33% a year over the past five years. Earnings have been growing rapidly, and with a low payout ratio we think that the company could turn out to be a great dividend stock.
Our Thoughts On A-Mark Precious Metals' Dividend
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about A-Mark Precious Metals' payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. 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 4 warning signs for A-Mark Precious Metals (1 is a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.
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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.
