Why Banco Bilbao (BBVA) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - Banco Bilbao (BBVA) is headquartered in Madrid and has experienced a price change of 15.81% in 2023 [2] - The bank currently pays a dividend of $0.34 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 6.53%, which is significantly higher than the Banks - Foreign industry's yield of 3.92% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.6% [2] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of BBVA is $0.69, reflecting a 67.5% increase from the previous year [2] - Over the last 5 years, BBVA has increased its dividend twice on a year-over-year basis, with an average annual increase of 9.25% [2] - The current payout ratio for BBVA is 20%, indicating that the bank paid out 20% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [2] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BBVA's earnings in 2024 is $1.54 per share, which represents a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 10% [3] Investment Appeal - BBVA is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4]