Finward Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNWD) Will Pay A Dividend Of US$0.31

Finward Bancorp's (NASDAQ:FNWD) investors are due to receive a payment of US$0.31 per share on 7th of July. Based on this payment, the dividend yield will be 3.2%, which is fairly typical for the industry.

View our latest analysis for Finward Bancorp

Finward Bancorp's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions

We like a dividend to be consistent over the long term, so checking whether it is sustainable is important. Based on the last payment, Finward Bancorp was earning enough to cover the dividend, but free cash flows weren't positive. In general, we consider cash flow to be more important than earnings, so we would be cautious about relying on the sustainability of this dividend.

The next year is set to see EPS grow by 26.4%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 35%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

Finward Bancorp Has A Solid Track Record

The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. Since 2012, the dividend has gone from US$0.60 to US$1.24. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 7.5% over that duration. The dividend has been growing very nicely for a number of years, and has given its shareholders some nice income in their portfolios.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve

Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. However, initial appearances might be deceiving. Unfortunately, Finward Bancorp's earnings per share has been essentially flat over the past five years, which means the dividend may not be increased each year.

The company has also been raising capital by issuing stock equal to 24% of shares outstanding in the last 12 months. 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.

In Summary

In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Finward Bancorp's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. While Finward Bancorp is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. We don't think Finward Bancorp is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Finward Bancorp that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.