IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX) has announced that it is rewarding shareholders in the form of a hike in the quarterly dividend rate. We believe that such shareholder-friendly policies reflect its strong cash position and its commitment toward returning high value to shareholders.
As revealed, the company’s board of directors approved 16% or 7 cents per share hike in the quarterly dividend rate, which now moved from 43 cents to 50 cents. On an annualized basis, the dividend increased to $2.00 per share from $1.72.
IDEX will pay the revised dividend on May 31, 2019, to shareholders of record as of May 17.
Sound Shareholder-Friendly Policies
The company rewards its shareholders mainly through dividend payments and share buybacks. Over the last three years (2016-2018), it hiked the dividend payment every year, with $1.34 per share distributed in 2016 and $1.66 paid in 2018. Also, the company’s spending on share buybacks totaled $173.9 million in 2018, up from $57.3 million in 2016.
In the first quarter of 2019, IDEX distributed dividends of $33 million while repurchased 370 thousand shares for $51.7 million. Also, exiting the first quarter, its share count was roughly 76.3 million.
We believe that further share buybacks and dividend payments will keep investors interested in the stock.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
With a market capitalization of $11.7 billion, IDEX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). In the past three months, the company’s shares have increased 9.5%, in line with the industry.
Further, in the past 30 days, earnings estimates for IDEX have increased 1.6% to $5.82 for 2019 and 0.3% to $6.15 for 2020. On a year-over-year basis, estimates reflect growth of 7.6% for 2019 and 5.8% for 2020.
IDEX Corporation Price and Consensus
IDEX Corporation price-consensus-chart | IDEX Corporation Quote
Some better-ranked stocks in the industry are Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ROP) , DXP Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXPE) and Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) . While Roper currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), DXP Enterprises and Dover carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
In the past 60 days, earnings estimates for all three stocks have improved for the current year. Further, average earnings surprise for the last four quarters was positive 48.47% for DXP Enterprises, 8.43% for Roper and 8.61% for Dover.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.
See Latest Stocks Today >>
Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP): Free Stock Analysis Report
IDEX Corporation (IEX): Free Stock Analysis Report
DXP Enterprises, Inc. (DXPE): Free Stock Analysis Report
Dover Corporation (DOV): Free Stock Analysis Report
Original post