Why Essent Group (ESNT) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - Essent Group (ESNT) is a mortgage insurance and reinsurance holding company based in Hamilton, operating in the Finance sector [3] - The company's shares have experienced a price change of 7% so far this year [3] Dividend Information - Essent Group currently pays a dividend of $0.31 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.13%, which is significantly higher than the Insurance - Property and Casualty industry's yield of 0.55% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.56% [3] - The annualized dividend of $1.24 represents a 10.7% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, Essent Group has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis, achieving an average annual increase of 16.16% [4] - The current payout ratio is 18%, indicating that the company paid out 18% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Essent Group anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $6.87 per share, reflecting a 0.29% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - Essent Group is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]