Why Old Republic International (ORI) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - Old Republic International (ORI) is headquartered in Chicago and operates in the Finance sector, with a stock price change of 8.1% since the start of the year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.26 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.34%, which is higher than the Insurance - Multi line industry's yield of 2.24% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.57% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $1.06 represents an 8.2% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, ORI has increased its dividend 5 times, averaging an annual increase of 5.36% [4] - The company's payout ratio is currently 39%, indicating that it paid out 39% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ORI's earnings in 2024 is $2.73 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 3.80% [5] Investment Appeal - ORI is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]