Why Citizens Financial Services (CZFS) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - Citizens Financial Services (CZFS) is headquartered in Mansfield and operates in the Finance sector [3] - The stock has experienced a price decline of -10.76% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - CZFS currently pays a dividend of $0.5 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.5%, which is higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.87% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.6% [3] - The annualized dividend of $1.98 has increased by 1% from the previous year, with an average annual increase of 2.52% over the last 5 years [4] - The current payout ratio for CZFS is 32%, indicating that 32% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share (EPS) is distributed as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - CZFS is projected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $6.54 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 8.82% [5] Investment Appeal - The company is viewed as an attractive dividend investment, with benefits such as improved stock investing profits, reduced overall portfolio risk, and tax advantages [6] - CZFS is ranked 2 (Buy) by Zacks, indicating it is considered a compelling investment opportunity [7]