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Kraft Heinz Faces Dividend Concerns Amid Unimpressive Earnings

A recent report indicates that Kraft Heinz's high dividend yield may not be sustainable due to inadequate earnings and a significant payout ratio, raising questions about the company's ability to maintain its dividend in the future.

Date: 
AI Rating:   4

The report highlights some crucial financial metrics regarding Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC) that could impact investor sentiment and, consequently, stock prices. Kraft Heinz currently pays a dividend yield of approximately 4.8%. However, concerns arise from its recent earnings results, which have been described as unimpressive. The company's trailing 12-month sales totaled $26.1 billion, but it only generated a net income of $1.4 billion, indicating a relatively low profit margin.

A major concern is the reported net loss of $290 million for the period ending September 28, attributed mostly to substantial impairment losses related to goodwill and intangible assets, exceeding $1.4 billion. Such significant financial setbacks can instill fear among investors regarding the sustainability of Kraft's dividend payments.

Additionally, the report details the company's diluted earnings per share (EPS) over the past four quarters, which stands at $1.11, while it pays out $1.60 in dividends per share annually. This situation creates a high payout ratio of over 144%, suggesting that Kraft may not sustain its current dividend if challenges persist.

However, one of the analysis points out the limitations of the payout ratio in reflecting the true sustainability of dividends since noncash charges can distort the financial picture. The report states that Kraft Heinz's free cash flow (FCF) was $849 million last quarter, with more than $3 billion generated over the past year. With cash dividends amounting to less than $2 billion annually, the current FCF indicates that Kraft might be able to sustain its dividend payments despite the negative earnings report.

Ultimately, the report implies that while Kraft's current dividend appears safer due to its FCF situation, investor perception could still shift dramatically based on profitability worries and the potential for another dividend cut, which would likely move stock prices down. Overall, the mixed signals from the company's financial performance may leave investors cautious.

Stocks:  KHC