Why German American Bancorp (GABC) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - German American Bancorp (GABC) is a financial services holding company headquartered in Jasper, operating in the Finance sector [3] - The stock has experienced a price decline of 9.55% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - GABC currently pays a dividend of $0.29 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.19%, which is lower than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.44% but higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.69% [3] - The annualized dividend of $1.16 represents a 7.4% increase from the previous year, with a five-year average annual increase of 9.04% [4] - The company's payout ratio stands at 38%, indicating that it distributes 38% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - GABC is projected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $3.27 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 15.55% [5] Investment Appeal - GABC is considered an attractive dividend investment, improving stock investing profits and decreasing overall portfolio risk [6] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating it is viewed as a compelling investment opportunity [7]