Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)’s Yield Is Creeping Higher

Dividend Payout Ratio

For some perspective, the following chart shows Verizon’s dividend payout ratio through the end of 2016.

The key takeaway is that the payout ratio (Dividend / Free Cash Flow) has recently climbed to an unsustainable level as industry competition has intensified and the overall industry is changing. For perspective, here is the same chart for AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).

Unlike Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) was able to address its precipitously rising dividend payout ratio several years ago with its DirectTV acquisition (this acquisition helped AT&T better cover its dividend payments, and adapt to the changing industry/market conditions).

The expectation is that Verizon’s Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) acquisition will address its growing payout ratio in much the same way DirectTV helped address it for AT&T. But even if the Yahoo acquisition doesn’t go through (we believe it will) then Verizon can continue to support its big dividend by selling assets. For example, Verizon helped support its big dividend payments in 2016 by selling some of its telecom properties to Frontier Communications (FTR) for $3.3 billion in cash and $5.2 billion in Frontier stock, and Verizon also raised over $5 billion in cash in 2016 by selling tower assets to American Tower Corp. (AMT). Either way, we believe Verizon’s dividend is safe.