Value Investing News

A person’s character is determined by how they behave when no one else is looking and during difficult times. In much the same way, we can learn a lot about a company’s management when they face adversity. One metric I look at closely during a downturn is cash generation relative to earnings.

Management typically evaluates short and mid-term economic and business conditions when they decide on allocation of limited resources. Cash is one such resource, which could either be reinvested back in the business, or returned to shareholders. Companies typically achieve some optimal balance in allocating cash flows from earnings between owners and the business.

Most investors are not surprised when a company cuts its dividend. They saw the early warning signs well in advance of the actual cut. Here are three signs that a company is heading toward a dividend cut: