Not all dividends are created equal. Here, we'll do a top-to-bottom analysis of a given company to understand the quality of its dividend and how that's changed over the past five years.

The company we're looking at today is Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), which yields 4.6%.

Duke Energy is an electric utility. When the electricity market went through deregulation, utilities had to choose between being distributors or producers. Duke chose distribution, and its electricity is sold in a largely regulated market. Since the company is largely regulated, it is stable like the average utility.

Duke Energy Corporation Total Return Price Chart

Duke Energy Corporation Total Return Price Chart by YCharts

To evaluate the quality of a dividend, the first thing to consider is whether the company has paid a dividend consistently over the past five years, and, if so, how much it has grown.

Duke Energy Corporation Dividend Chart

Duke Energy Corporation Dividend Chart by YCharts

Duke Energy's dividend has been rising steadily since 2007 and now rests at $0.25 per quarter.

Immediate safety
To understand how safe a dividend is, we use three crucial tools, the first of which is:

  • The interest coverage ratio, or the number of times interest is earned, which is calculated by earnings before interest and taxes, divided by interest expense. The interest coverage ratio measures a company's ability to pay the interest on its debt. A ratio less than 1.5 is questionable; a number less than 1 means the company is not bringing in enough money to cover its interest expenses.

Duke Energy Corporation Times Interest Earned TTM Chart

Duke Energy Corporation Times Interest Earned TTM Chart by YCharts

Duke Energy covers every $1 in interest expense with over $3 in operating earnings.

The other tool we use to evaluate the safety of a dividend is:

  • The EPS payout ratio, or dividends per share divided by earnings per share. The EPS payout ratio measures the percentage of earnings that go toward paying the dividend. A ratio greater than 80% is worrisome.

Source: S&P Capital IQ.

While its payout jumped in 2008 with the downturn, the payout ratio has stayed below 80% more recently.


Source: S&P Capital IQ.

There are some alternatives in the industry, though none with as high a yield as Duke's. American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) is closest, with a yield of 4.5% and a payout ratio of 49%. Southern (NYSE: SO) has a yield of 4.1% and a payout ratio of 75%. Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) rounds out the group with a 2.4% yield and a 48% payout ratio.

Another tool for better investing
Most investors don't keep tabs on their companies. That's a mistake. If you take the time to read past the headlines and crack a filing now and then, you're in a much better position to spot potential trouble early. We can help you keep tabs on your companies with My Watchlist, our free, personalized stock-tracking service.

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Follow Dan Dzombak on Twitter at @DanDzombak to check out his musings and see what articles he finds interesting. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Southern. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.