Imagine yourself as a partner in a company that, over the years, regularly paid you a pro-labore fee.
Suddenly, that payment is abruptly stopped. What to do in a situation like this? At this moment, your only alternative is to try to find a way out of this adverse situation, while you realize that you may have been left with few options available. When we choose investments based solely on dividends, we can easily fall into what I call 'the dividend trap' .
Dividends are one of the most pleasant news for an investor,
as John Davison Rockefelle r well expressed when he stated: "Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing a dividend credited to my account ." However, many companies are fully aware of how to awaken investor interest in dividends, attracting those who are not properly informed and promoting their shares. If these stocks can maintain their market value, they can sustain regular dividend payments , which creates what we call a feedback system.
In an investment in which investors have the sole purpose of receiving dividends,
The absence or failure to pay dividends can have dramatic consequences on the price of a share and cause a lot of headaches for investors. Let's look at an example of how a lack of dividend payments led to a sudden drop in price. The name of the investments will be omitted.
As we can see, the investment had been paying a good level of dividends to its shareholders in 2019 and much of 2020; in the order of R$29 per share per month, generating a net income of approximately R$348 per year.
That same year, the price of the asset exceeded the value of R$3,900.00 per share.
If we do a calculation, we will see that some shareholders who purchased the investment above R$3,920 expected to receive a dividend of R$348 per year, counting on a dividend of approximately 8.9% per year. However, what investors did not expect was that the investment would suddenly stop providing earnings in October 2020.
Looking at the price chart above, what we saw was a precipitous drop in the share price in a matter of days. And today, after 3 years, we realize that the price of the asset still does not exceed R$1,000.00. A loss that was irreversible for many investors and that will possibly drive unsuspecting investors away from the financial market.
How to Avoid Losses?
Focus on the fundamentals and check how the company is doing financially. Remember that in times of recession, it is the strongest companies that have the ability to overcome headwinds.
Check who the customers are
If a company has a broad customer base, the loss of one of them is not as problematic, as others will continue to consume, contributing to sales volume.
Check Customer Contracts
Check the expiration of contracts with key customers. For example, if you are interested in investing in a highway concessionaire, always ask when the contract will expire with the government, state, or municipality.
Work with the help of a CNPI Analyst
Finally, don't act alone; Always seek help from a CNPI analyst , the only financial professional who can evaluate and make recommendations for investment products.
Contact analyst Wagner Geremia.