Why Federated Hermes (FHI) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Core Insights - The focus for income investors is generating consistent cash flow from liquid investments, particularly through dividends [1][2] Company Overview - Federated Hermes (FHI), headquartered in Pittsburgh, has experienced a price change of 6.47% this year and currently pays a dividend of $0.34 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.45% [3] - The company's dividend yield is lower than the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 2.71% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.39% [3] Dividend Analysis - Federated Hermes has an annualized dividend of $1.36, which is a 2.3% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend three times, averaging an annual increase of 0.78% [4] - The current payout ratio is 27%, indicating that the company pays out 27% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Federated Hermes for 2026 is $5.07 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 1.81% [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [5] - High-growth firms and tech start-ups typically do not provide dividends, while established companies with secure profits are preferred for dividend investments [6] - Federated Hermes is positioned as an attractive dividend investment opportunity, supported by a strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]