Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next four days.  The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend.  The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend.   Therefore, if you purchase Becton Dickinson's shares on or after the 10th of June, you won't be eligible to receive the dividend, when it is paid on the 28th of June.  

The company's upcoming dividend is US$0.95 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$3.80 per share to shareholders.  Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Becton Dickinson has a trailing yield of 1.6% on the current share price of US$238.50.    We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose!  So we need to investigate whether Becton Dickinson can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut.   It paid out 79% of its earnings as dividends last year, which is not unreasonable, but limits reinvestment in the business and leaves the dividend vulnerable to a business downturn.  We'd be concerned if earnings began to decline.     Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend.     It distributed 37% of its free cash flow as dividends, a comfortable payout level for most companies.    

It's positive to see that Becton Dickinson's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

NYSE:BDX Historic Dividend June 5th 2024

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising.   If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously.     That's why it's comforting to see Becton Dickinson's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 50% per annum for the past five years.        The company is paying out more than three-quarters of its earnings, but it is also generating strong earnings growth.    

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth.     Since the start of our data, 10 years ago, Becton Dickinson has lifted its dividend by approximately 6.7% a year on average.      We're glad to see dividends rising alongside earnings over a number of years, which may be a sign the company intends to share the growth with shareholders.  

The Bottom Line

Is Becton Dickinson worth buying for its dividend?      Becton Dickinson's growing earnings per share and conservative payout ratios make for a decent combination. We also like that it paid out a lower percentage of its cash flow.        Overall we think this is an attractive combination and worthy of further research.  

So while Becton Dickinson looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock.     In terms of investment risks, we've identified 3 warning signs with Becton Dickinson and understanding them should be part of your investment process.  

If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.