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Rush Enterprises, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:RUSH.A) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.18 per share on 12th of December. The dividend yield is 1.3% based on this payment, which is a little bit low compared to the other companies in the industry.
View our latest analysis for Rush Enterprises
Rush Enterprises' Projected Earnings Seem Likely To Cover Future Distributions
It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. Rush Enterprises is quite easily earning enough to cover the dividend, however it is being let down by weak cash flows. With the company not bringing in any cash, paying out to shareholders is bound to become difficult at some point.
Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 7.6%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 21%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.
Rush Enterprises Is Still Building Its Track Record
The dividend's track record has been pretty solid, but with only 6 years of history we want to see a few more years of history before making any solid conclusions. The annual payment during the last 6 years was $0.213 in 2018, and the most recent fiscal year payment was $0.72. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 22% a year over that time. Rush Enterprises has been growing its dividend quite rapidly, which is exciting. However, the short payment history makes us question whether this performance will persist across a full market cycle.
The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow
The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Rush Enterprises has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 15% per annum. With a decent amount of growth and a low payout ratio, we think this bodes well for Rush Enterprises' prospects of growing its dividend payments in the future.
Our Thoughts On Rush Enterprises' Dividend
Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We don't think Rush Enterprises is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 1 warning sign for Rush Enterprises that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. 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.