Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a 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.
Virtus Investment Partners in Focus
Headquartered in Hartford, Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 9.58% so far this year. The asset management company is paying out a dividend of $0.67 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.01% compared to the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 1.93% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.72%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.68 is up 15.5% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Virtus Investment Partners has increased its dividend 2 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 8.89%. 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. Right now, Virtus's payout ratio is 18%, which means it paid out 18% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Looking at this fiscal year, VRTS expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 is $15.42 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 4.19%.
Bottom Line
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that VRTS is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a 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.
Virtus Investment Partners in Focus
Headquartered in Hartford, Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 9.58% so far this year. The asset management company is paying out a dividend of $0.67 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.01% compared to the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 1.93% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.72%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.68 is up 15.5% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Virtus Investment Partners has increased its dividend 2 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 8.89%. 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. Right now, Virtus's payout ratio is 18%, which means it paid out 18% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Looking at this fiscal year, VRTS expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 is $15.42 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 4.19%.
Bottom Line
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that VRTS is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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