Assessing the Sustainability and Growth of U.S. Bancorp's Dividends
U.S. Bancorp (USB, Financial) recently announced a dividend of $0.48 per share, payable on 2023-10-16, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-09-28. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's deep dive into U.S. Bancorp's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.
What Does U.S. Bancorp Do?
As a diversified financial-services provider, U.S. Bancorp is one of the nation's largest regional banks, with branches in roughly 26 states, primarily in the Western and Midwestern United States. The bank offers many services, including retail banking, commercial banking, trust and wealth services, credit cards, mortgages, and other payments capabilities.
A Glimpse at U.S. Bancorp's Dividend History
U.S. Bancorp has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1984. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. U.S. Bancorp has increased its dividend each year since 2009. The stock is thus listed as a dividend achiever, an honor that is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 14 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.
Breaking Down U.S. Bancorp's Dividend Yield and Growth
As of today, U.S. Bancorp currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.87% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 5.87%. This suggests an expectation of same dividend payments over the next 12 months.
Over the past three years, U.S. Bancorp's annual dividend growth rate was 6.00%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 9.90% per year. And over the past decade, U.S. Bancorp's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 9.50%.
Based on U.S. Bancorp's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of U.S. Bancorp stock as of today is approximately 9.41%.
The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability
To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-06-30, U.S. Bancorp's dividend payout ratio is 0.53.
U.S. Bancorp's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks U.S. Bancorp's profitability 6 out of 10 as of 2023-06-30, suggesting fair profitability. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.
Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook
To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. U.S. Bancorp's growth rank of 6 out of 10 suggests that the company has a fair growth outlook.
Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and U.S. Bancorp's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. U.S. Bancorp's revenue has increased by approximately 3.90% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 63.86% of global competitors.
The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, U.S. Bancorp's earnings increased by approximately -3.90% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 83.57% of global competitors.
Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 1.60%, which underperforms than approximately 72.88% of global competitors.
Conclusion
Given U.S. Bancorp's consistent dividend payments, commendable growth rate, reasonable payout ratio, fair profitability, and growth metrics, it appears to be a solid choice for investors seeking steady dividend income. However, it's crucial to keep a close eye on the company's growth metrics and profitability to ensure the sustainability of its dividends in the long run.
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