Picture supply: Getty Pictures
The Canadian fairness markets are upbeat amid the USA Federal Reserve’s 50 foundation factors rate of interest reduce final month. The S&P/TSX Composite Index is up 14.4% for this yr. Nevertheless, the escalating Center East battle is a trigger for concern. Given the unsure outlook, buyers ought to look to purchase high quality dividend shares to earn a steady passive revenue whereas strengthening their portfolios.
Towards this backdrop, let’s assess whether or not Pizza Pizza Royalty (TSX:PZA) could be a wonderful dividend inventory to purchase proper now. The corporate has adopted an asset-light enterprise mannequin, working 672 Pizza Pizza and 102 Pizza 73 manufacturers by way of its franchisees. It collects royalty from these franchisees primarily based on their gross sales. So, its financials are much less prone to rising commodity value fluctuations and wage inflation, thus producing steady and predictable money flows.
Let’s take a look at its just lately reported second-quarter efficiency and progress prospects.
PZA’s second-quarter efficiency
PZA’s royalty pool gross sales fell 2% to $155.4 million. The 5.1% decline in Pizza Pizza model’s same-store gross sales led to a decline within the firm’s royalty pool gross sales. In the meantime, 3.7% same-store gross sales progress in Pizza 73 model eating places and a rise of 31 eating places to its royalty pool have offset a few of the declines.
Additional, the corporate witnessed elevated administrative bills through the quarter, partially offset by elevated curiosity revenue. In the meantime, its adjusted EPS (earnings per share) fell 3.3% to $0.238. Its payout ratio stood at 109%, a considerable improve from 95% within the earlier yr’s quarter. Its working capital reserve declined by $1.4 million to $6.8 million amid decrease royalty revenue and a excessive payout ratio. Let’s take a look at its progress prospects.
PZA’s outlook
Regardless of the unfavorable same-store gross sales, PZA’s administration expects to retain or win new prospects by way of its high-quality, value-oriented menu choices. The corporate expects its omnichannel presence to assist improve its prospects’ comfort, thus driving its gross sales. The corporate, which has opened 25 eating places in Canada and two in Mexico, is constant its developmental works and hopes to extend its conventional restaurant community by 3-4% this yr.
Additional, the corporate can be persevering with its renovation program, which might result in larger footfalls within the coming quarters, thus supporting its gross sales.
Dividends and valuation
PZA intends to distribute all accessible money to its shareholders to maximise their returns. Nevertheless, the corporate permits cheap reserves as a result of differences due to the season inherent to the restaurant trade and to smoothen out its dividend payouts. Final yr, PZA raised its month-to-month dividends thrice with an mixture improve of 10.7%. Nevertheless, the corporate has not hiked its dividends this yr because of the difficult macro setting. It at the moment pays a month-to-month dividend of $0.0775/share, with its ahead yield at 7.08%.
Furthermore, PZA trades at an affordable valuation, with its price-to-book and next-12-month price-to-earnings multiples at 1.4 and 13.4, respectively.
Buyers’ takeaway
PZA has been underneath strain this yr, shedding 5.7% of its inventory worth. Weak quarterly performances and excessive payout ratios have made buyers fear concerning the sustainability of its dividends. Nevertheless, falling inflation and financial easing initiatives might increase financial actions, thus growing footfalls at PZA’s eating places. Contemplating all these components, I imagine PZA could be a wonderful purchase at these ranges.
