It looks like

Ingles Markets,after braces do you have to wear a retainer forever Incorporated

(

NASDAQ:IMKT.A

) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 4 days. Investors can purchase shares before the 6th of January in order to be eligible for this dividend, which will be paid on the 14th of January.

Ingles Markets's upcoming dividend is US$0.17 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$0.66 per share to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Ingles Markets has a trailing yield of 1.5% on the current share price of $42.66. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Ingles Markets

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Ingles Markets is paying out just 7.5% of its profit after tax, which is comfortably low and leaves plenty of breathing room in the case of adverse events. 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. The good news is it paid out just 5.7% of its free cash flow in the last year.

It's positive to see that Ingles Markets'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 how much of its profit Ingles Markets paid out over the last 12 months.

historic-dividend

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. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. That's why it's comforting to see Ingles Markets's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 25% per annum for the past five years. Ingles Markets earnings per share have been sprinting ahead like the Road Runner at a track and field day; scarcely stopping even for a cheeky "beep-beep". We also like that it is reinvesting most of its profits in its business.'

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Ingles Markets's dividend payments are broadly unchanged compared to where they were 10 years ago.

Story continues

To Sum It Up

Is Ingles Markets worth buying for its dividend? We love that Ingles Markets is growing earnings per share while simultaneously paying out a low percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. These characteristics suggest the company is reinvesting in growing its business, while the conservative payout ratio also implies a reduced risk of the dividend being cut in the future. Overall we think this is an attractive combination and worthy of further research.

In light of that, while Ingles Markets has an appealing dividend, it's worth knowing the risks involved with this stock. To help with this, we've discovered

2 warning signs for Ingles Markets

that you should be aware of before investing in their shares.

A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find

a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content?

Get in touch

with us directly.

Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

View comments

(责任编辑：Fashion)