Why Sierra Bancorp (BSRR) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - Sierra Bancorp (BSRR) is headquartered in Porterville and has experienced a price change of 5.95% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.25 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.26%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 2.86% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.55% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Sierra Bancorp is $1.00, reflecting a 6.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 3 times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 3.88% [4] - The current payout ratio is 35%, indicating that the company paid out 35% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth and Future Outlook - For the fiscal year, Sierra Bancorp expects solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $2.95 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 4.61% [5] - Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth and the payout ratio [4] Investment Opportunity - Sierra Bancorp presents a compelling investment opportunity as it offers an attractive dividend and has a strong Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]