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Upcoming Ex Dividend Dates > January
2010 Dividends by Sector > Basic
Materials Dividends by Market Capitalization > Micro
Cap (Below $250M) Dividends by Industry > Aerospace/Industrial
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The dividend payout ratio is a metric that measures the proportion of the company's earnings that is paid out in the form of dividends to shareholders. A very easy way to estimate the payout ratio is to take the stock's current annualized dividend rate and divide it in to 12 months' trailing earnings per share. We have a whole tutorial on how to calculate dividend payout ratio. Note that the payout ratio fluctuates as the company's changes its dividend payments each quarter, or because earnings fluctuate from quarter to quarter. As a sign of caution, Josh Peters tells us to become suspicious of a company whose dividend payout ratio exceeds 60 - 70%. At that point, earnings only need to fall by 30 - 40% before dividends are no longer funded by earnings. We have compiled a list of all dividend paying stocks (greater than 1%) who have long term debt to equity ratios of 35% or less. This is done so as to make sure apart from making interest payments to debtors (35%), the company has enough cash left over (65%) to make dividend payments as well as capital investments, acquisitions, etc.
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