If you are looking for a quality company that boasts a tidy profit and pays a nice dividend, here is a stock for your consideration. Northland Power Inc. (TSX: NPI) has a lot going for it.
Northland, established in 1987, is an independent power producer that develops, owns, and operates power projects in Canada and Europe. Let’s see how the stock is faring.
Northland by the numbers
In August, Northland reported adjusted Q2 earnings of $0.19 per share, which beat industry estimates of $0.14. This missed last year’s Q2 results by 5%, but the numbers look good overall. Net income grew by 0.61% year over year in the second quarter, among the strongest growth in the industry. Northland has a net profit margin of 29.40%, making it a leader in the industry. For comparison, peers TransAlta Renewables Inc. (TSX: RNW) has a profit margin of 26.58%, and Alterra Power Corp. (TSX:AXY) has a negative profit margin of -8.17%. Northland’s trailing earnings per share is $1.22.
The stock’s return on equity is a healthy 32.33%. Over the last three years, revenue growth has averaged 25.41% per year — better than the industry average of 12.93%. The only number of real concern I see is Northland’s debt-to-net-equity ratio of 8.38, which means the company has a lot more debt than equity. However, this isn’t unusual for the industry.
The stock is currently trading about midway between its 52-week low of $20.89 and its 52-week high of $25.04. Analysts are currently looking for the stock price to move up into the $26 range over the next 12 months. That puts the stock on an upward trajectory if they are right.
Now, let’s look at the quality dividend we talked about. The stock currently pays a monthly dividend of $0.09 per share for an annual payout rate of $1.08 per share. This gives Northland a dividend yield of 4.71%. The dividend rate has held steady over the past five years at $0.09. If you are an income investor, this is a reliable dividend for you.
Bottom line
Northland is steady company, and it’s producing good results. It’s an industry leader in both revenue and profit. The stock also has a high dividend yield, which should make it attractive for income investors. If you want to add power company to your Foolish portfolio, Northland Power Inc. is a solid contender.
