Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) Could Be a Great Choice

Company Overview - Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) is based in Marietta and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 5.13% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.41 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.19%, which is significantly higher than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 2.81% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.39% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of Peoples Bancorp is $1.64, reflecting a 0.6% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 3.63% [4] - The current payout ratio stands at 54%, indicating that the company distributes 54% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, PEBO anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 projected at $3.39 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 8.65% [5] Investment Appeal - Established firms with secure profits are typically viewed as the best dividend options, and PEBO is positioned as an attractive dividend play [6] - The stock has a strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable investment opportunity [6]