Why Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Core Viewpoint - Generating consistent cash flow through dividends is a primary focus for income investors, with dividends contributing significantly to long-term returns [2][6]. Company Overview - Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) is based in Pikeville and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 0.91% [3]. - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.47 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.51$1.88, reflecting a 1.1% increase from the previous year [4]. - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 5.47% [4]. - The current payout ratio is 41%, indicating that the company pays out 41% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4]. Earnings Expectations - Community Trust Bancorp is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $5.06 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 9.76% [5]. Investment Appeal - Community Trust Bancorp is viewed as an attractive dividend investment and a compelling opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7].