Will Banco Santander SA, BHP Billiton plc & United Utilities Group PLC Slash Their Dividends?

Are these 3 stocks less appealing as income plays than is currently believed? Banco Santander SA (LON: BNC), BHP Billiton plc (LON: BLT) and United Utilities Group PLC (LON: UU)

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

With the global economy enduring a very uncertain period, it would not be a major surprise for companies to cut their dividends. After all, the financial outlook for a company is more important than the finances of its investors and, in order to shore up the outlook for a business, it may be prudent to at least reduce shareholder payouts in the short run.

One company which did just that is Santander (LSE: BNC). As part of a strategic review last year it conducted a placing and also reduced its dividends from 44p per share to around 14p per share. Clearly, that is a huge fall and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Santander’s share price has gradually fallen from over 600p to its current level of just over 350p. While not all of this is due to a lower dividend, it is clear that a sizeable portion of its investors were somewhat disgruntled by the decline in their income.

However, Santander’s reason for slashing dividends makes sense. It wants to maintain its global exposure and also shore up its balance sheet in the face of a challenging Eurozone economic outlook. And, while further cuts to its dividend cannot be ruled out, they are now covered 2.6 times by profit, which makes them appear to be highly sustainable for the long run.

Meanwhile, United Utilities (LSE: UU) has been one of the most reliable income plays in recent years, with its dividends increasing in each of the last five years. However, with the liberalisation of the water services market due to take place in 2017, costly incidents such as the recent bacterial issue in Lancashire and pressure to cut water prices in real terms over the next few years, the company’s dividends could come under pressure.

In addition, with inflation being near-zero, there is arguably less demand for a significant rise in dividends. So, it could be the case that United Utilities matches inflation in the medium term while it is low and thereby still offers an enticing dividend growth outlook. And, with the company’s shares currently yielding 4.2%, they remain a very appealing income selection.

However, BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT) seems destined to slash dividends. The mining sector is experiencing a hugely difficult period, with further commodity price falls in the coming months appearing to be increasingly likely. This poses a problem for BHP, since it means that its earnings are likely to come under pressure and makes an already high dividend even less affordable.

In fact, BHP currently pays out 176% of profit as a dividend. While this can be paid in the short run, it is unlikely that BHP will be able to afford such a high level of shareholder payout in the medium to long term, since capital will be required to reinvest in the business for future growth. So, unless the outlook for commodities improves significantly, a cut in dividends is on the cards for BHP. Still, the market appears to already be pricing this in, since it yields a whopping 8.1% at the present time.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Peter Stephens owns shares of BHP Billiton and United Utilities. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

3 value shares for investors to consider buying in 2025

Some value shares blew the roof off during 2024, so here are three promising candidates for investors to consider next…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Can this takeover news give Aviva shares the boost we’ve been waiting for?

Aviva shares barely move as news of the agreed takeover of Direct Line emerges. Shareholders might not see it as…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 cheap FTSE 250 growth shares to consider in 2025!

These FTSE 250 shares have excellent long-term investment potential, says Royston Wild. Here's why he thinks they might also be…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Has the 2024 Scottish Mortgage share price rise gone under the radar?

The Scottish Mortgage share price rise has meant a good year for the trust so far, but not as good…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Will the easyJet share price hit £10 in 2025?

easyJet has been trading well with rising earnings, which reflects in the elevated share price, but there may be more…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 FTSE shares I won’t touch with a bargepole in 2025

The FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 have some quality stocks. But there are others that Stephen Wright thinks he…

Read more »

Dividend Shares

How investing £15 a day could yield £3.4k in annual passive income

Jon Smith flags up how by accumulating regular modest amounts and investing in dividend shares, an investor can build passive…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Could this be the FTSE 100’s best bargain for 2025?

The FTSE 100 is full of cheap stocks but there’s one in particular that our writer believes has the potential…

Read more »