Why German American Bancorp (GABC) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - German American Bancorp (GABC) is located in Jasper and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -3.43% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.29 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.99%, which is slightly below the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.07% but significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.46% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of GABC is $1.16, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.4% [4] - Over the past five years, GABC has raised its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 8.99% [4] - The company's current payout ratio stands at 39%, indicating that it distributes 39% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year 2025, GABC anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate projecting earnings of $3.36 per share, which corresponds to a year-over-year growth rate of 18.73% [5] Investment Appeal - GABC is characterized as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]