Back to top

Image: Bigstock

This is Why SB Financial Group, Inc. (SBFG) is a Great Dividend Stock

Read MoreHide Full Article

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.

While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on 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 account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.

SB Financial Group, Inc. In Focus

Based in Defiance, SB Financial Group, Inc. (SBFG - Free Report) is in the Finance sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of -14.28%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.13 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.44%. In comparison, the Banks - Northeast industry's yield is 2.95%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.73%.

Taking a look at the company's dividend growth, its current annualized dividend of $0.50 is up 4.2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, SB Financial Group, Inc. has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 11.52%. 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. SB Financial Group, Inc.'s current payout ratio is 31%. This means it paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Earnings growth looks solid for SBFG for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2023 is $1.77 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 8.59%.

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.

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. With that in mind, SBFG is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold).


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


SB Financial Group, Inc. (SBFG) - free report >>

Published in