Today we’ll take a closer look at Redsun Properties Group Limited (HKG:1996) from a dividend investor’s perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company’s dividend doesn’t live up to expectations.
Some readers mightn’t know much about Redsun Properties Group’s 4.7% dividend, as it has only been paying distributions for a year or so. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Redsun Properties Group for its dividend – read on to learn more.
Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Redsun Properties Group!
SEHK:1996 Historical Dividend Yield, March 15th 2020
Payout ratios
Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company’s net income after tax. Looking at the data, we can see that 21% of Redsun Properties Group’s profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. We like this low payout ratio, because it implies the dividend is well covered and leaves ample opportunity for reinvestment.
Is Redsun Properties Group’s Balance Sheet Risky?
As Redsun Properties Group has a meaningful amount of debt, we need to check its balance sheet to see if the company might have debt risks. A rough way to check this is with these two simple ratios: a) net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and b) net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA is a measure of a company’s total debt. Net interest cover measures the ability to meet interest payments. Essentially we check that a) the company does not have too much debt, and b) that it can afford to pay the interest. Redsun Properties Group has net debt of 10.91 times its EBITDA, which we think carries substantial risk if earnings aren’t sustainable.
Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company’s net interest expense. With EBIT of 3.70 times its interest expense, Redsun Properties Group’s interest cover is starting to look a bit thin. High debt and weak interest cover are not a great combo, and we would be cautious of relying on this company’s dividend while these metrics persist.
Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Redsun Properties Group’s latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.
Dividend Volatility
One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well – nasty. This company has been paying a dividend for less than 2 years, which we think is too soon to consider it a reliable dividend stock. Its dividends have grown at less than 1% per annum over this time frame.
We like that the dividend hasn’t been shrinking. However we’re conscious that the company hasn’t got an overly long track record of dividend payments yet, which makes us wary of relying on its dividend income.
Dividend Growth Potential
Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it’s also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. Redsun Properties Group’s earnings per share have fallen -64% over the past year. This is a pretty serious concern, and it would be worth investigating whether something fundamental in the business has changed – or broken. We do note though, one year is too short a time to be drawing strong conclusions about a company’s future prospects.
We’d also point out that Redsun Properties Group issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus – perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective.
Conclusion
Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company’s dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. We’re glad to see Redsun Properties Group has a low payout ratio, as this suggests earnings are being reinvested in the business. Earnings per share have been falling, and the company has a relatively short dividend history – shorter than we like, anyway. In summary, we’re unenthused by Redsun Properties Group as a dividend stock. It’s not that we think it is a bad company; it simply falls short of our criteria in some key areas.
It’s important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. To that end, Redsun Properties Group has 5 warning signs (and 2 which don’t sit too well with us) we think you should know about.
Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of dividend stocks with a yield above 3%.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at [email protected]. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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