WaFd (WAFD) is a Top Dividend Stock Right Now: Should You Buy?

Company Overview - WaFd (WAFD) is based in Seattle and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -0.31% [3] - The company is the holding entity for Washington Federal Savings Bank and currently pays a dividend of $0.27 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.36% [3] Dividend Performance - WaFd's current annualized dividend of $1.08 has increased by 0.9% from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, WaFd has raised its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 4.27% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 40%, indicating that it distributes 40% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WaFd's earnings in 2025 is projected at $3.06 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 12.50% [5] Investment Considerations - WaFd is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] - The company is positioned well for income investors, especially in comparison to the Banks - West industry's yield of 2.99% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.45% [3]