Why Heritage Financial (HFWA) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - Heritage Financial (HFWA) is a bank holding company headquartered in Olympia, experiencing a price change of -4.16% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.24 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.09%, which is significantly higher than the Financial - Savings and Loan industry's yield of 2.96% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.5% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Heritage Financial is $0.96, reflecting a 4.3% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 4 times year-over-year, averaging an annual increase of 4.17% [4] - The current payout ratio stands at 52%, indicating that the company paid out 52% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Heritage Financial anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $2.11 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 14.05% [5] Investment Appeal - Heritage Financial is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]