3 Red Flag Dividend Aristocrats Most Likely To Cut Their Dividends

Revealed on February twentieth, 2025 by Bob CiuraSpreadsheet knowledge up to date every day

The Dividend Aristocrats are a choose group of 69 S&P 500 shares with 25+ years of consecutive dividend will increase.

The necessities to be a Dividend Aristocrat are:

Be within the S&P 500
Have 25+ consecutive years of dividend will increase
Meet sure minimal dimension & liquidity necessities

There are at present 69 Dividend Aristocrats.

You may obtain an Excel spreadsheet of all 69 Dividend Aristocrats (with metrics that matter akin to dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking the hyperlink under:

3 Red Flag Dividend Aristocrats Most Likely To Cut Their Dividends

Disclaimer: Positive Dividend isn’t affiliated with S&P World in any means. S&P World owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The data on this article and downloadable spreadsheet relies on Positive Dividend’s personal assessment, abstract, and evaluation of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) and different sources, and is supposed to assist particular person buyers higher perceive this ETF and the index upon which it’s based mostly. Not one of the info on this article or spreadsheet is official knowledge from S&P World. Seek the advice of S&P World for official info.

Nevertheless, even Dividend Aristocrats can fall from grace. For instance, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) was faraway from the Dividend Aristocrats checklist in 2024.

The corporate slashed its dividend because of a pronounced enterprise downturn within the brick-and-mortar pharmacy retail trade, amid elevated aggressive threats from on-line pharmacies.

This was after Walgreens Boots Alliance had maintained a 40+ 12 months streak of consecutive dividend will increase.

Whereas dividend cuts from Dividend Aristocrats are surprising, they’ve occurred–and will occur once more. To be clear, the next 3 Dividend Aristocrats aren’t at present in jeopardy of chopping their dividends.

Their dividend payouts are supported with enough underlying earnings (for now). If their earnings stay secure or proceed to develop, they’ve no less than an honest change of constant their dividend development.

However, the three Dividend Aristocrats under are going through basic challenges to various levels, and at present obtain our lowest Dividend Threat Scores of C, D, or F.

This text will present an in depth evaluation on the three Dividend Aristocrats most at risk of a future dividend minimize.

Desk of Contents

Pink Flag Dividend Aristocrat For 2025: Fastenal Co. (FAST)

Dividend Threat Rating: C
Dividend Yield: 2.3%

Fastenal started in 1967 when Bob Kierlin and 4 mates pooled collectively $30,000 to open the primary retailer. The unique intent was to dispense nuts and bolts through merchandising machine, however that concept bought off the bottom after 20 years.

The corporate went public in 1987 and at present offers fasteners, instruments and provides to its prospects through 1,597 public branches, 2,031 lively Onsite areas and over 126,900 managed stock units.

In mid-January, Fastenal reported (1/17/25) outcomes for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. It grew its internet gross sales 4% over the prior 12 months’s quarter because of development in Onsite areas whereas costs remained flat. Earnings-per-share remained flat at $0.46, lacking the analysts’ consensus by $0.02.

One cause for stagnant earnings is that the corporate’s margins have steadily declined over the previous two years.

Supply: Investor Presentation

Fastenal’s earnings-per-share are anticipated to extend in 2025, however the firm’s dividend payout has elevated sooner than its earnings lately.

Because of this, the payout ratio is anticipated to succeed in 80% in 2025. It is a dangerously excessive degree that doesn’t go away a lot monetary wiggle room. If earnings unexpectedly declined, because of a recession or one more reason, the dividend payout could possibly be at risk.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on FAST (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Pink Flag Dividend Aristocrat For 2025: Amcor plc (AMCR)

Dividend Threat Rating: F
Dividend Yield: 5.0%

Amcor plc is likely one of the world’s most distinguished designers and producers of packaging for meals, pharmaceutical, medical, and different client merchandise. The corporate emphasizes making accountable packaging that’s light-weight, recyclable, and reusable.

As we speak, the Amcor plc, which trades on the NYSE, was fashioned in June 2019 with the merger between two packaging firms, U.S-based Bemis Co. Inc. and Australia-based Amcor Ltd. Amcor plc’s present headquarters is in Bristol, U.Okay.

The present dividend yield is enticing in comparison with the broader market, however the payout ratio is excessive at practically 70% anticipated for 2025.

As a packaging producer, Amcor is especially uncovered to the worldwide economic system. It will be troublesome for the corporate to keep up its dividend in a steep recession consequently. AMCR inventory receives our lowest Dividend Threat Rating of ‘F’.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on AMCR (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Pink Flag Dividend Aristocrat For 2025: Franklin Assets (BEN)

Dividend Threat Rating: C
Dividend Yield: 6.1%

Franklin Assets is an funding administration firm. It was based in 1947. As we speak, Franklin Assets manages the Franklin and Templeton households of mutual funds.

On January thirty first, 2025, Franklin Assets reported internet earnings of $163.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the primary fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2024.

This marked a big enchancment from the earlier quarter’s internet lack of $84.7 million, although EPS remained decrease than the $251.3 million internet earnings recorded in the identical quarter final 12 months.

Supply: Investor presentation

The previous few years have been troublesome for Franklin Assets. Franklin Assets was gradual to adapt to the altering setting within the asset administration trade.

The explosive development in exchange-traded funds and indexing investing shocked conventional mutual funds.

ETFs have change into highly regarded with buyers due largely to their decrease charges than conventional mutual funds. In response, the asset administration trade has needed to minimize charges and commissions or danger shedding consumer property.

Earnings-per-share are anticipated to say no in 2025 consequently. The corporate nonetheless maintains a manageable payout ratio of 51% anticipated for 2025, but when EPS continues to say no, the dividend payout could possibly be at risk down the highway.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on BEN (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Remaining Ideas

The Dividend Aristocrats are among the many finest dividend development shares out there.

And whereas most Dividend Aristocrats will proceed to lift their dividends every year, there could possibly be some that find yourself chopping their payouts.

Whereas it’s uncommon, buyers have seen a number of Dividend Aristocrats minimize their dividends over the previous a number of years, together with Walgreens Boots Alliance, 3M Firm (MMM), V.F. Corp. (VFC), and AT&T Inc. (T).

Whereas the three Dividend Aristocrats introduced right here have been profitable elevating their dividends every year so far, all of them face various ranges of challenges to their underlying companies.

Because of this, earnings buyers ought to view the three crimson flag Dividend Aristocrats on this article cautiously going ahead.