Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE:CNS) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 13th of March to $0.62. This will take the dividend yield to an attractive 2.8%, providing a nice boost to shareholder returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Cohen & Steers

Cohen & Steers' Future Dividend Projections Appear Well Covered By Earnings

Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Prior to this announcement, Cohen & Steers' dividend was making up a very large proportion of earnings and perhaps more concerning was that it was 149% of cash flows. This is certainly a risk factor, as reduced cash flows could force the company to pay a lower dividend.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 122.3% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along the course it has been charting recently, our estimates show the payout ratio being 40% which brings it into quite a comfortable range.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The annual payment during the last 10 years was $1.88 in 2015, and the most recent fiscal year payment was $2.48. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 2.8% per annum over that time. The dividend has seen some fluctuations in the past, so even though the dividend was raised this year, we should remember that it has been cut in the past.

The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Cohen & Steers hasn't seen much change in its earnings per share over the last five years. Cohen & Steers' earnings per share has barely grown, which is not ideal - perhaps this is why the company pays out the majority of its earnings to shareholders. When the rate of return on reinvestment opportunities falls below a certain minimum level, companies often elect to pay a larger dividend instead. This is why many mature companies often have larger dividend yields.

Cohen & Steers' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable

Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Cohen & Steers will make a great income stock. The payments are bit high to be considered sustainable, and the track record isn't the best. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Just as an example, we've come across 3 warning signs for Cohen & Steers you should be aware of, and 1 of them is potentially serious. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.