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Is CenterPoint Energy (CNP) a High-Growth Dividend Stock?
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Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
CenterPoint Energy in Focus
Based in Houston, CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) is in the Utilities sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of -0.92%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.28 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.95%. In comparison, the Utility - Electric Power industry's yield is 3.33%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.79%.
In terms of dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.11 is up 3.7% from last year. In the past five-year period, CenterPoint Energy has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.19%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company's payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. CenterPoint's current payout ratio is 71%, meaning it paid out 71% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for CNP for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 is $1.61 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 17.52%.
Bottom Line
Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that CNP is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
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Is CenterPoint Energy (CNP) a High-Growth Dividend Stock?
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
CenterPoint Energy in Focus
Based in Houston, CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) is in the Utilities sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of -0.92%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.28 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.95%. In comparison, the Utility - Electric Power industry's yield is 3.33%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.79%.
In terms of dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.11 is up 3.7% from last year. In the past five-year period, CenterPoint Energy has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.19%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company's payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. CenterPoint's current payout ratio is 71%, meaning it paid out 71% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for CNP for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 is $1.61 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 17.52%.
Bottom Line
Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that CNP is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).