2024-02-29 08:16:00 ET
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) shares currently yield roughly 6.6%. Investors are often attracted to high-yield stocks for their income potential. However, high dividend yields can sometimes be a sign that the dividend is not safe because market participants often anticipate a cut to the payout in advance.
Recent examples of high-profile companies that have slashed their dividends include Verizon peer AT&T (NYSE: T) , which cut its payout nearly in half in 2022, and Walgreens Boots Alliance , which recently reduced its dividend by almost 50%, ending 47 years of dividend growth. Prior to AT&T's dividend reduction, the stock was yielding more than 8.5%. Walgreen shares were yielding over 7.5% before the company decided to slash the dividend.
Verizon currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.665 per share, which equates to $2.66 on an annual basis, and it expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.50 to $4.70. Thus, the company has a payout ratio of roughly 58%. Adjusted EPS is an appropriate measure to use to get a sense of the business's true earnings power because it excludes the impact of one-time events such as restructuring charges and legal settlements.
For further details see:
Is Verizon's 6.6% Dividend Yield Sustainable?