Here's What We Like About Intel's (NASDAQ:INTC) Upcoming Dividend

Here is the article. 

Here are highlights:

1. Intel's next dividend payment will be US$0.33 per share
2. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$1.32 to shareholders.
3. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Intel has a trailing yield of 2.8% on the current share price of $47.73.
4. Intel has a low and conservative payout ratio of just 23% of its income after tax.
5.  Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 25% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio.
6. Intel's earnings per share have risen 18% per annum over the last five years.
7. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders.

Things I learn to read the article:

1. How to calculate trailing yield
2. Gather all financial information about Intel

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in three days. Ex-dividend means that investors that purchase the stock on or after the 6th of August will not receive this dividend, which will be paid on the 1st of September.

Intel's next dividend payment will be US$0.33 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$1.32 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Intel has a trailing yield of 2.8% on the current share price of $47.73. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Intel

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Intel has a low and conservative payout ratio of just 23% of its income after tax. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Intel generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 25% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. For this reason, we're glad to see Intel's earnings per share have risen 18% per annum over the last five years. Earnings per share have been growing rapidly and the company is retaining a majority of its earnings within the business. This will make it easier to fund future growth efforts and we think this is an attractive combination - plus the dividend can always be increased later.

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Since the start of our data, 10 years ago, Intel has lifted its dividend by approximately 9.0% a year on average. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders.

Final Takeaway

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Intel? Intel has been growing earnings at a rapid rate, and has a conservatively low payout ratio, implying that it is reinvesting heavily in its business; a sterling combination. It's a promising combination that should mark this company worthy of closer attention.

With that in mind, a critical part of thorough stock research is being aware of any risks that stock currently faces. To help with this, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Intel that you should be aware of before investing in their shares.

A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.