June 09, 2025 a 07:46 am
ODFL: Dividend Analysis - Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) presents a dividend yield just under 1%, indicative of its growth-oriented strategy. With consistent dividend payments over the last nine years, the company shows commendable dividend history, designed to benefit long-term investors. The firm's current payout ratios suggest a conservative approach, highlighting fiscal sustainability.
📊 Overview
The company operates in the Transport & Logistics sector and has demonstrated a steady yearly dividend growth over the past few years. Despite the relatively low dividend yield of 0.67%, its market capitalization of over $33 billion makes it a substantial player in its industry.
| Sector | Dividend Yield | Current Dividend Per Share | Dividend History | Last Cut or Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport & Logistics | 0.67% | 1.04 USD | 9 years | None |
🗣️ Dividend History
The importance of a reliable dividend history cannot be overstated for dividend-centric investors. It reflects a company's commitment to return capital to shareholders consistently.
| Year | Dividend Per Share (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.56 |
| 2024 | 1.04 |
| 2023 | 0.80 |
| 2022 | 0.60 |
| 2021 | 0.40 |
📈 Dividend Growth
Analyzing dividend growth over time helps in understanding a company's earnings and confidence in its profit outlook. Here, the growth rates over three and five years indicate a healthy upward trajectory.
| Time | Growth |
|---|---|
| 3 years | 37.51% |
| 5 years | 35.62% |
The average dividend growth is 35.62% over 5 years. This shows moderate but steady dividend growth.
📉 Payout Ratio
The payout ratio is crucial for assessing sustainability. Lower ratios often suggest more room for growth and financial flexibility.
| Key Figure | Ratio |
|---|---|
| EPS-based | 19.21% |
| Free cash flow-based | 26.38% |
With a low EPS payout ratio of 19.21% and a FCF ratio of 26.38%, ODFL demonstrates a prudent approach, indicating robust capacity to maintain and potentially increase dividends.
✅ Cashflow & Capital Efficiency
These metrics gauge how effectively the company generates cash and utilizes capital—key to sustaining dividend payouts.
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 2.34% | 1.83% | 2.86% |
| Earnings Yield | 3.12% | 2.79% | 4.29% |
| CAPEX to Operating Cash Flow | 46.48% | 48.26% | 45.82% |
| Stock-based Compensation to Revenue | 0.20% | 0.19% | 0.25% |
| Free Cash Flow / Operating Cash Flow Ratio | 53.51% | 51.74% | 54.18% |
The cash flow data suggest stable capital management with substantial free cash flow generation, supporting ongoing dividend payouts despite a high P/E ratio.
⚠️ Balance Sheet & Leverage Analysis
The financial stability and leverage indicate a company's ability to meet its long-term obligations and manage debt sustainably.
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt-to-Equity | 1.41% | 4.71% | 2.74% |
| Debt-to-Assets | 1.09% | 3.64% | 2.07% |
| Debt-to-Capital | 1.39% | 4.49% | 2.66% |
| Net Debt to EBITDA | -0.020 | -0.118 | -0.041 |
| Current Ratio | 1.33 | 2.10 | 1.76 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.33 | 2.10 | 1.76 |
| Financial Leverage | 129% | 129% | 132% |
ODFL maintains a solid leverage position with impressive liquidity ratios, reinforcing its ability to capitalize on strategic opportunities without over-leveraging.
📊 Fundamental Strength & Profitability
Profitability ratios reveal how well a company can generate earnings relative to sales, assets, and equity, key indicators of business success.
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity | 27.94% | 29.11% | 37.70% |
| Return on Assets | 21.60% | 22.49% | 28.46% |
| Margins: Net | 20.40% | 21.13% | 21.99% |
| Margins: EBIT | 26.79% | 28.10% | 29.40% |
| Margins: EBITDA | 32.72% | 33.63% | 33.85% |
| Margins: Gross | 34.79% | 35.32% | 36.04% |
| Research & Development to Revenue | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
The high margins and robust returns on equity and assets indicate strong operational efficiency and profitability, thus supporting further dividend growth opportunities.
📉 Price Development
📈 Dividend Scoring System
| Category | Score (1-5) | Score Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2 | |
| Dividend Stability | 4 | |
| Dividend growth | 4 | |
| Payout ratio | 5 | |
| Financial stability | 5 | |
| Dividend continuity | 4 | |
| Cashflow Coverage | 4 | |
| Balance Sheet Quality | 5 |
Total Score: 33/40
✅ Rating
Old Dominion Freight Line boasts a commendable financial and dividend profile, making it a solid choice for investors seeking stable income combined with potential for capital appreciation. With an overall score of 33 out of 40, the stock is well-suited for a balanced investment portfolio focused on income and growth potential. It is recommended as a "buy" for investors looking for dividend reliability with growth prospects.