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Bridgepoint Group plc's (LON:BPT) investors are due to receive a payment of £0.04 per share on 23rd of May. This payment means that the dividend yield will be 3.6%, which is around the industry average.
View our latest analysis for Bridgepoint Group
Bridgepoint Group's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage
While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Based on the last dividend, Bridgepoint Group is earning enough to cover the payment, but then it makes up 579% of cash flows. The company might be more focused on returning cash to shareholders, but paying out this much of its cash flow could expose the dividend to being cut in the future.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 16.2%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 51%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
Bridgepoint Group Doesn't Have A Long Payment History
The company hasn't been paying a dividend for very long at all, so we can't really make a judgement on how stable the dividend has been. This doesn't mean that the company can't pay a good dividend, but just that we want to wait until it can prove itself.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Unfortunately things aren't as good as they seem. Bridgepoint Group's EPS has fallen by approximately 77% per year during the past three years. Dividend payments are likely to come under some pressure unless EPS can pull out of the nosedive it is in. On the bright side, earnings are predicted to gain some ground over the next year, but until this turns into a pattern we wouldn't be feeling too comfortable.
The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable
In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Bridgepoint Group's 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 don't think Bridgepoint Group is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Bridgepoint Group (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.