PG Stock Dividend Review – Safety, History, Growth, Valuation & More!
Let’s work through a Procter & Gamble stock dividend review.
Since Procter and Gamble’s stock is a long-time staple holding for many dividend investors. And I too have been an investor in Procter and Gamble stock for quite a few years.
In addition, we use a number of Procter and Gamble products around our household. So let’s get started with a few key takeaways from today’s article.
Then review P&G’s current product lines. And finally, run Procter and Gamble stock through a dividend review and stock valuation analysis.
Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
P&G Stock Dividend Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. P&G’s business is benefiting from the company’s restructuring to focus on fewer brands. And a recent reversal of past trends where consumers strayed away from branded household products.
2. Procter and Gamble’s stock has a long and rich dividend history. The company is a Dividend King. Dividend safety is high. And dividend growth appears to be reviving after several years of low dividend increases. To boil it down, P&G is one of those good dividend-paying stocks.
3. P&G’s stock appreciation has left the shares trading at much higher valuations than when the company embarked upon its restructuring.
4. I view P&G shares as a solid long-term hold in my dividend portfolio. However, I am only interested in buying more shares at lower prices.
Procter & Gamble Company Background
P&G is a branded consumer goods company.
They classify their products into a number of different areas. Here are the major categories. And an example of one or two products from each.
Fabric Care
For example, Tide laundry detergent. This is one of their most well-known brands.
Home Care
Cascade for the dishwasher. And Dawn for when you want to do the dishes by hand.
Don’t forget those Mr. Clean Magic erasures. They can come in pretty handy.
Baby Care
Pampers diapers are a popular item.
Family & Feminine Care
This includes Bounty paper towels, Charmin toilet paper, and Puffs Kleenex. To name just a few.
Personal Health Care
Vicks NyQuil and VapoRub are classic products. I remember using them as a kid.
Oral Care
Crest toothpaste and Scope mouthwash are iconic brands in the oral care category.
Grooming
Gillette razors. Last I looked, they are pretty expensive. And a lot of cheaper competition has come into this segment in recent years.
Hair Care
Head & Shoulders and Old Spice.
Skin And Personal care
Ivory soap and Safeguard.
Source: P&G product categories and brands
That concludes a brief product review. Let’s talk next about business risks. And the company’s strategy to combat them.
Procter & Gamble Business Risks
Branded consumer products businesses have been facing major headwinds. Organic growth rates have been weak as consumers shift to lower-cost private label products.
And there is stiff competition in retail stores from local brands in foreign markets. Since it takes time and money to understand the cultural preferences of local consumers.
On the other hand, the global health crisis has driven people to spend more time at home. And with that, has come an increased demand for the well-known brands that P&G supplies.
On the expense side of the ledger, commodity price inflation and transportation cost increases must be dealt with. Finally, a stronger US dollar always presents a threat because so much of P&G’s business is done in foreign currency.
Related: What I look at to pick my dividend stocks
Procter & Gamble Growth Strategy
To combat business risk, the company focuses on the following critical areas…
Focused product portfolio – With an emphasis on daily use products
Superior products – Product quality, packaging excellence, and high value
Productivity – Cost reductions and efficient cash usage delivering billions of dollars in savings to fund profits and investments
Constructive disruption – Through brand building, digitization and supply chain efficiencies
Organization – Operating through several industry-based strategic business units
Source: P&G strategy
Procter & Gamble Stock Symbol
Finally, Procter & Gamble stock trades on the New York stock exchange. It does so using the stock symbol PG (NYSE: PG).
When you trade stocks, be sure to use the best tools. And trade for free. I use the Webull app.
For the next part of our P&G stock analysis, I want to move on to the P&G dividend review. Because before investing my money, I like to know exactly how a company’s dividend works.
We shall start with the answer to an obvious question…
Does Procter & Gamble Pay Dividends?
Yes. Procter & Gamble is a stock that pays regular and recurring dividends. And, the company has done so for a very long time.
So, let’s dig into all of the facts and figures. I want to take a close look to see how the dividend is impacting our finances and passive income stream.
We manage our finances using Personal Capital. It’s free and easy to use.
Procter & Gamble Dividend Payout
Procter and Gamble’s stock has an annual forward dividend payout rate.
The annual forward dividend per share is the most recent dividend paid. Multiplied by the number of times a company pays dividends each year.
Furthermore, the dividend yield is a stock’s annual forward dividend rate. Divided by the stock price.
Procter & Gamble Dividend Yield
The P&G stock dividend payout provides investors with a lower dividend yield.
It is typically below my minimum desired threshold of 3%. Sometimes it will rise to my target range of 3% and 5%. But only on significant stock price weakness.
Because dividend yield has an inverse relationship with a stock’s price. And we all know how quickly stock prices can change.
How Often Does Procter & Gamble Pay Dividends?
P&G dividends are paid on a regular basis. Quarterly, or in other words, 4 times per year. The first dividend payment of the year is made in February.
What Months Does P&G Pay Dividends
After the first dividend of the year, dividend payments follow in 3-month intervals. So, P&G’s dividend payments are delivered in February, May, August, and November. During these months, the dividend is paid on or around the 15th day.
This is one of several typical quarterly dividend payment patterns. And many US stocks follow the same dividend payment pattern as P&G.
When Is The P&G Ex-Dividend Date?
Are you a potential new shareholder or one looking to make an add-on buy? Then you may want to receive the next P&G dividend issuance. To do so, you must complete your investment BEFORE the ex-dividend date.
P&G’s ex-dividend date usually falls during the 3rd week of the month PRIOR to when its dividend is paid.
First of all, each quarterly dividend payment is subject to the approval of the board of directors. As a result, the timing of both the ex-date and the payable date changes slightly each quarter.
So, check the company’s investor relations website if the exact dates are important to you. But this discussion should give you a general feel for the timing.
On the other hand, you can be a long-term buy-and-hold dividend stock investor, like me. In that case, you will be sure to receive every dividend that Procter & Gamble pays. Then there is little need to worry about the different dividend dates.
Next up, let’s look at P&G’s dividend history. Because it is one of many stocks with an impressive dividend record.
P&G Dividend History
First of all, Procter & Gamble stock started trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1891. Furthermore, the company has paid annual dividends every year since it went public.
Finally, the P&G dividend has been increased each year starting in 1957.
Procter & Gamble Is A Dividend King
One of the attractive qualities of the Procter and Gamble stock dividend is its long history of annual increases.
P&G is a dividend king. Dividend Kings have increased their dividends for at least 50 years in a row. I love that type of consistency as a dividend growth stock investor.
But what does P&G’s recent dividend growth rate look like? Let’s check…
Procter & Gamble Dividend Growth Rate
Until more recently, P&G’s dividend growth had been pretty low.
Recent P&G Dividend Increase
Fortunately, the company’s 2021 dividend increase broke the trend to the upside. It checked in at 10%.
I will be watching closely for the next dividend increase announcement. To see if the upside trend in dividend growth continues.
Procter & Gamble Dividend Policy
After reviewing press releases announcing their dividend increases. And shareholder meeting materials. I noted management emphasizes its long-term track record of cash returns to shareholders.
However, they stop short of declaring a specific dividend policy. This is not unusual. But I do prefer a company where future dividend payment objectives are clearly stated.
The company’s long and rich dividend history sends a clear signal about dividend policy. Let me put it in my own words…
First of all the company’s policy is to pay dividends each year.
Furthermore, increase the dividend rate per share annually.
Finally, not allow the dividend payout ratio to rise too high. Where an elevated payout ratio. Let’s say greater than 60%, could put the dividend at risk for a reduction in the future.
So, let’s dig into these business fundamentals to see if the business has been improving. And see where P&G’s dividend payout ratio stands.
As I have noted, until the last dividend increase, dividend growth had slowed. Likely a result of a rising payout ratio.
Related: Another stock with a long record of dividend increases
Revenue
First of all, revenue was on the decline for a number of years. This was partly due to the major restructuring the company started in 2014.
At that time, the company decided to restructure by selling off more than 100 brands. They felt doing so would accelerate growth.
Furthermore, selling off brands to grow may not make sense on the surface. However, to coin a couple of old expressions, P&G pursued “addition by subtraction”. They assumed “less is more”.
Finally, I used their shift in strategy as a case study for a business planning course I was teaching at the time. I still have the Wall Street Journal article I used in class that outlined their big strategic announcement.
They didn’t identify any of their brands to be sold at the time. However, they said those brands represented about $8 billion per year in revenue. And that is roughly the revenue drop the company experienced starting in 2015.
More than 40 beauty brands were sold to Coty. And the Duracell battery brand was sold to Berkshire Hathaway. These were just a couple of the larger divestitures.
With their strategic repositioning completed, it appears revenues bottomed out at $65 billion. And, have grown slowly, but consistently since then.
P&G Dividend Payout Ratio Based on Earnings
As it relates to accounting earnings, they are very choppy. And, hard to understand, in my opinion.
Why are earnings so erratic? Because of gains and losses reported on the sales of their brands. In addition to the one-time impact from the 2017 tax reform act.
In fact, the spike in earnings in 2017 was from the gain on the sale of the beauty brands to Coty. And the earnings drop in 2019 was due to the one-time write-off of goodwill and intangible assets from the Gillette shave care business. Guys started shaving less and low-price competition increased in this area.
Nevertheless, there are 2 things that I can take away from reviewing P&G’s earnings and dividend trends. And by taking a long-term perspective as I like to do.
First of all, the company’s dividends per share have grown steadily. Furthermore, earnings per share usually cover those dividends by a good margin. Leaving the company with a very manageable dividend payout ratio.
By not allowing the dividend payout ratio to get too high. It allows P&G to handle any challenging economic times. While still having the resources to increase the dividend rate each year.
It should be noted too, that P&G has taken on aggressive cost reduction programs. These efforts have provided solid support for earnings growth and cash flow.
So, let’s talk about P&G dividends versus cash flow next…
Procter & Gamble Free Cash Flow
P&G has been using only a reasonable amount of its free cash flow to pay dividends.
For such a stable company, selling consumer staple products that have consistent demand, the company has a very comfortable dividend payout level to me. Based on the amount of cash it generates.
So, allow me to offer a few thoughts on cash flow…
First of all, in contrast to accounting-based earnings, cash is cash. A company cannot manipulate its cash flows. And cash is not impacted by accounting rules.
Furthermore, if I could only have one financial statement from a company, I would choose its statement of cash flows. From my perspective, it tells me the most about a company’s recent performance.
Finally, the rest of P&G’s free cash flow is allocated to retiring its shares in the stock market. And, to a much lesser extent, reducing debt.
Speaking of debt, let’s look at P&G’s financial position. First, credit ratings. Then, capital structure, using debt to equity.
Procter & Gamble Credit Rating
It’s a good idea to check in on a company’s credit rating. Similar to how your own credit score works, the rating provides an indication of how safe it is to lend the company money.
You can check your own credit score for free using Credit Karma. I will check P&G’s for you…
Moody’s and S&P rate P&G as “investment grade.
This is a very strong credit rating. It is the highest rating in the credit evaluation chart shown below.
So, if you like the idea of investing in companies with high credit ratings? Then P&G makes the grade.
You could also add a stock like Microsoft (MSFT) to your dividend investment portfolio.
Credit Rating Evaluation Grid
Or, the giant diversified health care company, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).
Because MSFT and JNJ are the only 2 US-based companies with the highest (AAA) credit ratings!
Procter & Gamble Debt To Equity
The credit ratings give me an indication that the company has a very strong balance sheet. And, P&G does, in my opinion. Let’s take a closer look…
Because I do not like my dividend stocks loaded up with an unsustainable amount of debt. So, I also judge a company’s financial position based on its debt to equity ratio.
What I see in looking at the company’s financials is that P&G has a reasonable debt-to-equity ratio. Combine this with the fact that the company typically carries billions of dollars of cash on its balance sheet and has a rock-solid credit rating.
Then what is the result?
It is a company with a secure financial position. This leads me to an easy conclusion on dividend safety…
Procter & Gamble Dividend Safety
I make a judgment regarding dividend safety for every dividend stock I own. It helps me to avoid dividend reductions from stocks in my dividend growth stock investment portfolio.
This P&G stock review tells me that Procter & Gamble’s stock dividend is very safe from a reduction in the foreseeable future.
I base this conclusion on many of the areas we have reviewed thus far. Specifically:
- Business fundamentals
- Dividend yield
- Dividend payout ratios
- Historical dividend track record
- Credit ratings
- Financial position
So, P&G’s dividend is safe. But will it grow? Let’s see…
Procter & Gamble Dividend Growth Projection
In order to plan for making dividend income, I also forecast annual dividend growth. It’s much easier when a company clearly communicates a stated dividend policy.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for P&G. But, I still do my best to make a forecast based on:
- Historical dividend growth
- Dividend payout ratios
- Business fundamentals
- Company growth strategy
Given these elements, this is what I’m thinking over the long term…
P&G will be able to grow sales by 2-4% annually. And increase earnings by 5-7% each year. While maintaining its dividend payout ratio at current levels. Therefore dividend growth will match earnings growth.
Based on these assumptions, I am forecasting 5-7% annual P&G dividend growth over the long term.
This company’s projected dividend growth rate is higher than in the last several years. But not as fast as when P&G was a smaller rapidly-growing company.
Next, let’s move on to stock valuation. Before we wrap up…
Procter & Gamble Stock Valuation
Procter & Gamble stock looks a little pricey to me.
The stock was much cheaper in 2018. And has appreciated a lot off the lows of that year.
To draw my conclusions, I reviewed the P&G stock valuation in two ways. Since different valuation methods have pros and cons.
Most importantly, valuation metrics can change quickly. And today’s are based on the timing of updates to this article.
For all the latest dividend metrics. And a current call on stock valuation, I use the Simply Investing Report & Analysis Platform. More on Simply Investing a little later.
For now, let’s get some insight into the stock’s valuation…
P&G Dividend Discount Model Valuation
The single-stage dividend discount model uses several factors we have discussed thus far.
- The current annual dividend payment
- Projected annual dividend growth
And one item we have not yet discussed. My desired annual return on investment.
Using these variables the dividend discount model suggests P&G stock is overvalued.
Simply Investing Report
As I just mentioned, The Simply Investing Report is full of dividend stock analysis and recommendations. Furthermore, it has a pretty strict method of determining a stock’s valuation.
Currently, the Simply Investing Report has an “overvalued” call on P&G stock.
Source: Simply Investing Report
Okay. That concludes our review of P&G’s stock valuation. As I said, the shares look to be a better buy at a lower price point.
Now it’s time to wrap up. With a few thoughts on how I view P&G within my own portfolio…
Procter & Gamble Stock Dividend Analysis – Wrap Up
I have owned P&G stock for many years. And, it has grown into one of the top 10 largest positions in my dividend stock portfolio.
It’s nice to be rewarded over the past couple of years with substantial increases in P&G’s stock price. Patience was certainly required as the company restructured its brand portfolio. And, dividend growth slowed.
Is P&G A Good Stock To Buy, Sell, Or Hold?
For now, I plan to hold my P&G stock.
The relatively low dividend yield and modest dividend growth are not very appealing. At least not for making new investments in additional shares.
Coupled with a high stock valuation. I think there are better dividend stocks for making money with dividends right now.
Moving forward, I will be looking for indications of faster dividend growth. And, better buying opportunities at lower prices for Procter and Gamble stock.
Related Dividend Stock & Dividend Investing Articles & Resources:
- Kimberly Clark stock and dividend analysis
- Clorox stock for dividend yield, growth & safety
- Dividends Diversify model stock portfolio
My Favorite Dividend Investing & Personal Finance Resources
- Trade stocks for free with the Webull app
- Get stock research from Morningstar
- Or dividend stock recommendations from Simply Investing
- Manage your finances for free with Personal Capital
- And check your credit score for free too!
Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.