Now that semiconductor giant
Intel (
NASDAQ: INTC )
has raised its guidance for this year, the next step management can
take to enhance shareholder value would be to increase the dividend.
Intel hasn't given investors a dividend raise in nearly two years.
Indeed, there was good reason for this. Intel is still reliant on the
personal computer, and has struggled to get its chips into tablets and
other mobile devices. In an increasingly mobile world, there were
rampant fears that the personal computer would go the way of the buggy
whip.
As a result, it's understandable that Intel needed to save as much
cash as it could to invest in new technologies. Apparently, Intel is
finally seeing enough progress on these measures to announce it will
likely return to revenue growth this year. And, assuming margins expand
as anticipated, profits will grow as well.
But Intel isn't the only company going through this.
Hewlett-Packard Company (
NYSE: HPQ )
is in the middle of its own turnaround. HP is busily investing in new
markets and product categories, but that hasn't stopped it from
increasing its dividend several times over the past few years.
With the dark storm clouds no longer hanging over Intel's head, it's time to reward loyal shareholders with a dividend increase.
All eyes on the payout
Intel hasn't raised its
dividend in quite some time, but it didn't have to. With so many
concerns about the state of its business and its declining profits,
Intel's stock price was stuck in the doldrums. That kept Intel's
dividend yield fairly high, since a stock price and dividend yield are
inversely related. The stock was already a high-yielder, especially for
its industry.
Plainly stated, there wasn't much urgency for Intel management to
raise its dividend when it yielded nearly 4%. But now that Intel's share
price has recovered and sits at $30 per share, a level not seen in a
decade. In turn, its yield is back down to 3%.
Nevertheless, Intel's lack of a dividend raise is a curious decision.
It's certainly true that the uncertainties in the rapidly evolving
world of technology are cause for conservatism. But Intel is still
highly profitable, with little debt on the balance sheet to worry about
and a comfortable payout ratio. And, Intel holds $10 billion in cash and
short-term securities, which in all likelihood isn't earning anything
for shareholders.
Intel generated $1.89 in earnings per share last year. Its $0.90 per
share dividend equates to just a 47% payout ratio, which is already a
very modest level. And, now that Intel expects revenue growth and margin
expansion this year, it stands to reason the payout ratio will drop
going forward as earnings per share likely increase.
Equally confusing is that Intel's PC peer HP hasn't held back its
dividend increases. HP has had its own fair share of PC-related
headaches. It's seen first-hand the effects of a huge and mature company
struggling to break the chains of old technology. To that end, HP's
revenue is down 1% over the past six months, which makes it clear the
company still has a ways to go before its turnaround is complete.
But that hasn't stopped HP from raising its dividend along the way.
Since Intel announced its last dividend increase, HP has upped its own
payout three times, including the most recent 10% bump.
Show shareholders the money, Intel
Intel once
held the reputation of a dividend growth stalwart. Until 2012, the
company had raised its payout every year for a decade. That all came to a
halt, however, when the mobile revolution caught Intel completely off
guard.
Since then, Intel has plowed most of its cash flow into new product
categories. Fortunately, there are finally glimmers of hope that these
investments will pay off. After a few years of stagnant results, Intel
expects revenue growth and margin expansion this year.
Assuming it hits its projections, there's no reason why Intel can't
raise its dividends. It maintains a conservative payout ratio and holds a
rock-solid balance sheet stuffed with cash. Loyal shareholders have
stuck with Intel through thick and thin. It's now time to reward them
with a dividend increase.