Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) is a Top Dividend Stock Right Now: Should You Buy?

Company Overview - Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) is headquartered in Pikeville and operates in the Finance sector [3] - The stock has experienced a price change of 0.15% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - CTBI currently pays a dividend of $0.47 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.54% [3] - The average dividend yield for the Banks - Southeast industry is 2.36%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.49% [3] - The company's annualized dividend of $1.88 has increased by 1.1% from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, CTBI has raised its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 5.32% [4] - The current payout ratio for CTBI is 37%, indicating that it paid out 37% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, CTBI anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $5.35 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 16.05% [5] Investment Appeal - CTBI is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6] - The company is considered a strong option for income investors due to its secure profits and consistent dividend payments [6]