Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Is Increasing Its Dividend To $0.10

The board of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of $0.10 on the 5th of January, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. Although the dividend is now higher, the yield is only 1.5%, which is below the industry average.

View our latest analysis for Graphic Packaging Holding

Graphic Packaging Holding's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. Prior to this announcement, Graphic Packaging Holding's earnings easily covered the dividend, but free cash flows were negative. 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.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 174.4%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 14%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

Graphic Packaging Holding Is Still Building Its Track Record

Graphic Packaging Holding's dividend has been pretty stable for a little while now, but we will continue to be cautious until it has been demonstrated for a few more years. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.20 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of $0.30. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 5.2% per annum over that time. Graphic Packaging Holding has a nice track record of dividend growth but we would wait until we see a longer track record before getting too confident.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Graphic Packaging Holding has impressed us by growing EPS at 11% per year over the past five years. Graphic Packaging Holding definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio.

Our Thoughts On Graphic Packaging Holding's Dividend

Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Graphic Packaging Holding will make a great income stock. While Graphic Packaging Holding is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Just as an example, we've come across 3 warning signs for Graphic Packaging Holding you should be aware of, and 1 of them is significant. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

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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.

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