Roper's (ROP) Board Okays 12% Hike in Quarterly Dividend Rate

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Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP - Free Report) has announced that it is rewarding shareholders in the form of a hike in the quarterly dividend rate. This increment marks the company’s 26th consecutive year of dividend rate increase.

We believe that such shareholder-friendly policies of the company reflect a strong cash position.

Inside the Headlines

    

As revealed, Roper’s board of directors approved 12% or 5 cents per share hike in the quarterly dividend rate, which now moved from 41.25 cents to 46.25 cents. On an annualized basis, the dividend increased to $1.85 from $1.65 per share.

Roper will pay the revised dividend on Jan 23, 2019, to shareholders of record as of Jan 9.

Sound Shareholder-Friendly Policies

Roper firmly believes in rewarding shareholders handsomely through dividend payments. In the last three years (2015-2017), the company’s cash dividend paid per share increased from $1.00 in 2015 to $1.40 in 2017. In December 2017, the company raised the quarterly dividend rate by 18%.

Further, the company paid a cash dividend of $1.2375 per share or approximately $126.7 million in cash to its shareholders in the first nine months of 2018.

We believe that impressive financial performance in the quarters ahead is likely to enable the company to continue rewarding its shareholders handsomely through dividend increments.

Earnings Projections and Price Performance of Roper

Roper, with approximately $29.9-billion market capitalization, currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Enhanced liquidity, improved end-markets conditions and tactical initiatives work in the company’s favor. However, buyout-related risks and adverse impacts of rising costs remain headwinds.

For 2018, the company anticipates adjusted earnings per share of $11.69-$11.73, higher than $11.40-$11.56 stated earlier. The mid-point of the revised projection reflects year-over-year growth of 24.3%.

In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has improved roughly 1% to $3.13 for the fourth quarter of 2018 and 1.8% to $11.72 for 2018. These estimates reflect year-over-year growth of 15.9% for the fourth quarter and 24.4% for 2018.

Roper Technologies, Inc. Price and Consensus

 

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