Researching the Results of a Dividend Screener

Introduction

This is the second of a three part series that focuses on the Stock Rover features that help you quickly identify, research and track dividend investment candidates. The three part series is structured as follows:

• Part 1 – Screening for Dividend Stocks and ETFs
• Part 2 – Researching the Results of a Dividend Screener
• Part 3 – Tracking Dividend Income

In this blog post we will cover using the Table, Chart, and Insight Panel to research the results of a Dividend Screener.

We’ll also show how to perform a deeper dive into a stock using Stock Ratings for peers analysis and Research Reports for comprehensive reporting.

Note: Some of the features outlined in this series require a Premium or Premium Plus subscription, please see Compare Plans for details.

Dividend Resources

Investor Library

To get started, Stock Rover comes with a wealth of out-of-the-box resources available in the Investor Library. These resources provide a tremendous headstart and make it easy to quickly research dividend-paying stocks and ETFs.

• Screeners

  Whether we are interested in looking for companies that have a history of paying regular uninterrupted dividends, are growing their dividends, are providing a desired dividend yield, are ensuring that companies are earning enough to meet their dividend obligations or something even more exotic, there is likely a dividend screener to suit our needs.

  Below we searched the Library and returned a list of Screeners that have the word “Dividend” in the name or description. We can use these Screeners as is or tailor them to our specific criteria.

  

• Portfolios

  The Library also comes with dividend-centric Portfolios. We can import the Portfolios from the Library and either implement them as is or update them with new holdings.

  

• Watchlists

  We can also target Stocks and ETFs to research by choosing any of the dividend-centric Watchlists. We can import the Watchlists from the Library and either implement them as is or update them with different tickers.

  

• Views

  We can load the Table with any of the dividend-centric Views from the Library. These Views allow us to quickly perform a comparative analysis between tickers. We can use these Views as is or tailor them further to suit our requirements.

  

Metric Browser

Stock Rover comes with a solid foundation of dividend-centric metrics that we can use to perform our research.

Below we launched the Metric Browser which shows all of the metrics available in Stock Rover, and then entered Dividend into the search box.

The Metric Browser returned 94 metrics with Dividend as part of the metric name or description. In addition, we have made this PDF file available which lists each out-of-the-box metric along with a description.

Researching Dividend Stocks

We are going to demonstrate researching dividend stocks using the results from our “Dividends + Great Free Cash Flow” Screener which we imported from the Investor Library.

This is a Ranked screener returning the Top 50 tickers that meet the following criteria:

Below we see an example of performing research using the All Layouts display. We can also display the Table, Chart, or Insight Panel individually.

Each of the Layouts (Table, Chart, and Insight) presents fundamentals and quantitative metrics to help us identify and evaluate dividend stocks.

1. Start Menu – We clicked on All
2. Navigation – Selected the Dividends + Great Free Cash Flow Screener
3. Table – Shows a comparative analysis of the passing tickers using the Dividends View
4. Chart – Graphs our ticker selected from the Table
5. Insight – Takes a deep dive into our selected ticker

Table

The Table provides a flexible spreadsheet-like paradigm for viewing tickers and their data. In our example below, each row in the Table corresponds to a ticker that passed our screener, and each column corresponds to a dividend-centric metric that we are interested in evaluating.

Viewing Dividend Metrics

Below we loaded the Table with the results of our Dividend + Free Cash flow screener.

We selected the Dividend Detail View, one of the many dividend-centric views available for import from the Investor Library.

1. Start Menu – We’ll click on Table
2. Navigation – Select the Dividends + Great Free Cash Flow Screener
3. Views – Click on the tab for the Dividend Detail View

Clicking on a column header in the Table reveals a number of options, including the ability to sort and group the rows in the Table. For example, we could group by sector and then sort by dividend yield.

We can also right-click on a row for row actions. For example, we could add the ticker to a Watchlist, trade it in a Portfolio, or show Historical Data.

Displaying Historical Data

Below we right-clicked on the row corresponding to the ticker MBIN – (Merchants Bancorp) and chose Historical Data.

We now see the Historical Data window showing quarterly data for each of the metrics in the Dividend Detail view – including Earnings Yield, Payout Ratio, Dividend Yield, and more.

Showing Dividend-Adjusted Returns

The Table below is displaying the dividend-adjusted returns of the tickers that passed our Dividend + Free Cash flow screener.

We are referencing the Returns view and we also moused over MBIN – (Merchants Bancorp) to expose the ticker’s Tooltip.

A few things we’ll want to take note of:

1. Return columns that span more than one day are showing the dividend-adjusted return
2. Tooltips show some great information, including Dividend Per Share and Dividend Yield

Chart

Stock Rover comes with a powerful charting facility. In this section, we’ll cover some of the many different ways that you can chart dividend metrics.

Price

In the Price Chart below we are comparing the dividend adjust return over 5 years between two tickers – MBIN – (Merchants Bancorp) and MSBI (Midland States Bancorp).

1. We can adjust whether to plot the dividend-adjusted return or price return via Settings.
2. We can also choose to display Dividend Events in the chart. In the example below, we hovered over the tooltip for a Dividend Event, and see that MBIN – (Merchants Bancorp) paid a $0.06 per share dividend on March 12, 2021.

Fundamental

With Fundamental Charts we have the ability to chart hundreds of fundamental metrics including those specific to dividends.

Below we are comparing the dividend yield between the tickers MBIN – (Merchants Bancorp) and MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) over a 5-year period of time.

We can tailor the chart as follows:

1. We can search for the fundamental(s) we’d like to chart
2. Select from recently charted fundamentals
3. Chart a Metric Package which is a grouping of fundamentals

   For example, if we were to choose the “Dividends” Metric package then operating income per share, dividend per share, payout ratio, and dividend yield would be displayed in a single chart.

The screenshot shown below is an example of the fundamental chart for the “Dividends” Metric package.

Price vs. Fundamental

In a Price vs. Fundamental chart we are seeing how a fundamental varies over time relative to price.

In our example, we are charting MSBI’s (Midland States Bancorp) price versus dividend cash flow, which is the cost of dividend payments to the company over the last twelve months in cash per share.

1. The green area chart is rendering the dividend cash flow

   The area chart has been annotated with the dividend cash flow values to demonstrate that it is displaying the relative change in the value of dividend cash flow

2. The ticker price is charted in blue
3. The simple moving average is shown in red

Because both the dividend cash flow and price lines begin at the same point we can see how the dividend cash flow value varies over time relative to the price.

Historical Range

With the Historical Range chart, we can plot a metric over time relative to its historical range. The graph background is colored to show regions of undervaluation (green), normal valuation (white), and overvaluation (red).

Below we are plotting the dividend yield over 5 years for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp).

1. The trailing 12-month (TTM) maximum dividend yield values are represented by the red line
2. The actual dividend yield is represented by the blue line
3. The green line is plotting the trailing 12-month minimum dividend yield values

Football Field

The Football Field chart shows key valuation metrics. Each horizontal bar represents the minimum and maximum value of the metric and is color coded into quintiles. The vertical blue line represents the ticker’s current metric value.

Below we see that MSBI’s (Midland States Bancorp) current dividend yield at 5.5 – is halfway between its 5-year high of 8.3 and 5-year low value of 2.4.

Insight Panel

The Insight Panel contains tools for researching a stock in depth. As there is a wide variety of information, the research data is logically grouped into tabs.

Summary

The Summary tab includes an array of basic information about our selected company.

We are researching MSBI (Midland States Bancorp), and below we show the Summary Insight panel, highlighting two key sections that contain dividend information.

1. Dividends Ratings vs Peers – Shows Stock Rover’s dividends percentile rating of the stock, where a score of 100 is best. MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) has a rating of 96, which is excellent. The proprietary algorithm compares the company to its peers and considers the consistency of key dividend metrics as well as their direction of change.
2. Dividends – Displays comparative dividend information for the Company, its Industry, and the S&P 500.

Visuals

The Visuals tab contains a wealth of information including data specific to dividends. The information is logically grouped into multiple sections that are represented in tabs.

Dividends

The Dividends tab provides detailed dividend information that includes dividend history that can go as far back as 2007.

The Dividends display for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) includes sections for:

1. Calendar Year Dividend Payments – Charts dividend payments and price
2. Calendar Year Dividend History – Shows detailed dividend payment history
3. Returns – Shows the Price Change and Total Return over time
4. Upcoming Dividend – Shows Ex-Dividend Data, Payment Date, Amount, and Type
5. Dividend Rate – Shows Annual and Trailing 12 Month Dividend Rate and Yield values
6. Statistics – Shows Payout Ratio, Dividend Coverage Ratio, and Growth values

History

The History tab shows key data from both the Income Statement and the Balance Sheet, as well as metrics specific to Cash Flow, and Profitability.

Below we see Cash Flow metrics for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp). The metrics specific to dividends include TTM values for the Dividends Cash Flow and the Dividend Coverage Ratio.

Note: If we click on the gear to the far right of this section we can change the display to show Quarterly or Calendar Year values.

vs Peers

The vs Peers tab contains extensive information about a stock versus its closest peers. Categories covered include Valuation, Growth, Fair Value, Return vs Industry/Sector/S&P 500, and Price Strength & Drawdown Risk.

Below we see the Return vs Industry/Sector/S&P 500 chart. The display is charting the dividend-adjusted return of MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) vs the S&P 500, its Industry – which is Banks-Regional, and its Sector – which is Financial Services.

Note: If we were to click on the gear to the far right of the display we can change a number of chart settings, including the date range.

vs Industry

The vs Industry tab shows key information in a tabular form about a stock versus its industry and versus the S&P 500. Categories covered include Risk & Returns, Growth, Profitability, and Dividends.

The Dividends table below is showing us how MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) performed as compared to its industry and the S&P 500.

Statements

The Statements tab contains data from financial statements.

Clicking on Summary, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash flow shows us the appropriate statement.

Clicking on Filings will list company’s filings with the SEC, each of which can then be clicked on to display the detailed filing.

Summary

Below we see summary data for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) including data from the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement – as well as additional information specific to Profitability and Dividends.

The Dividends section, highlighted below, includes the Dividends Per Share as well as the Dividend Yield, Dividend Growth, and Dividend Coverage.

The dividend data is represented as a bar chart, along with values for the compound annual growth rate, the TTM value, and the yearly values.

Note: We can choose to display Yearly, Quarterly, or Quarter versus Quarter data.

Cash Flow

Below is the Cash Flow data for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp).

Under “Cash Flows From Financing Activities” we see the Dividend paid represented as a bar chart, along with the compound annual growth rate, the TTM value, and the yearly values.

Stock Ratings

Stock Rover’s Stock Ratings facility, is a powerful capability that helps investors find and vet quality long-term companies to invest in.

For each of the six categories; Growth, Valuation Efficiency, Financial Strength, Dividend, and Momentum, Stock Rover selects the set of metrics that are critical to determining the performance of the stock in that specific category. Then for each metric in the category, Stock Rover looks at the value, trajectory, and the volatility of that metric and grades it against its peers. Using a proprietary algorithm it then calculates a percentile score. In addition, each metric is assigned a weight based on its importance.

Looking at the Dividend category, we can see that Midland States Bancorp’s (MSBI) dividends rating shows it in the 96th percentile of companies that pay a dividend in the Banks Industry Group, ranking it 13th out of 496 companies.

The yellow bar charts show where MSBI is in relation to its Industy and Peers. The bars show Dividend Yield, Dividend Growth, and Dividend Coverage. We also see charts for Trailing Yield and Dividends Per Share. Lastly, the Table is showing a Peers Analysis.

Research Reports

Research Reports deliver an on-demand comprehensive summary in PDF format for our selected ticker.

Note: Research Reports are available as a separate subscription.

When we request a Research Report, the research and analytics are performed at the very moment we make that request.

The report is packed with information that is displayed in a clear and well-structured way.

Below we see the Dividend Detail page for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp), there are additional dividend-centric analytics throughout the report. To see the entire research report for MSBI (Midland States Bancorp) in PDF format, click here.

Summary

We began by first showing two key Stock Rover investor resources: the Investor’s Library and the Metric Browser.

We then demonstrated how the Stock Rover Table, Chart, and Insight Panel present a comprehensive set of dividend-centric fundamentals and quantitative metrics, helping us research and vet dividend stocks.

Lastly, we saw how the Stock Ratings facility helps us compare a company versus its peers. And we demonstrated how to use Research Reports to get an on-demand research report for a company.

In the next segment of this series, we’ll take a closer look at how we can quickly and easily track dividend income in Stock Rover.