Why WaFd (WAFD) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Core Insights - The primary focus for income investors is generating consistent cash flow from liquid investments, which can come from various sources including dividends [1][2] Company Overview - WaFd (WAFD), based in Seattle, operates in the Finance sector and has experienced a price change of 2.42% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.27 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.27%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 2.89% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.4% [3] Dividend Analysis - WaFd's annualized dividend of $1.08 has increased by 0.9% from the previous year, with a historical average annual increase of 4.27% over the last five years [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 40%, indicating that it pays out 40% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WaFd's earnings in 2025 is $3.06 per share, reflecting an expected increase of 12.50% from the previous year [5] Investment Considerations - WaFd is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6]