Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS) is a Top Dividend Stock Right Now: Should You Buy?

Company Overview - Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS) is based in Hartford and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -7.49% [2] - The company currently pays a dividend of $1.9 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.4%, which is higher than the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 2.8% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [2] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Virtus Investment Partners is $7.60, reflecting a 10.9% increase from the previous year [2] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 5 times year-over-year, achieving an average annual increase of 30.73% [2] - The current payout ratio is 31%, indicating that the company paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [2] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year 2024, the Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts earnings of $26.02 per share, which corresponds to a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 18.54% [3] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [4] - VRTS is positioned as a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend yield and a strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4]