First Merchants Corporation Dividend Analysis

Yes, First Merchants pays a regular dividend of about $1.46 per share per year (a yield of roughly 3.4%). That is a payout ratio of about 45.6% of earnings, so it is well covered by earnings. A low headline yield is not the same as a weak dividend: what matters is how well earnings and cash flow cover the payout, not the percentage alone. The full payout history and per-share figures are on this dividends tab.

First Merchants's dividend looks well covered by earnings. Intrinsiqq scores its dividend safety at 40 out of 100, weighing the payout ratio, free-cash-flow coverage and balance-sheet strength. Safety matters more than yield: a payout you can rely on beats a high one you cannot.

First Merchants has raised its dividend for about 14 years in a row. Over the past five years the dividend has grown at roughly 6.6% a year. Consistent growth is one of the strongest signals of a durable, shareholder-friendly business, so read the streak alongside coverage on this tab.

First Merchants pays out about 45.6% of its earnings as dividends. A lower payout ratio leaves more room to keep raising the dividend and to absorb a bad year, while a very high ratio can signal a payout under pressure. On this measure the dividend is well covered by earnings. See the dividend-safety breakdown for the free-cash-flow view, which is often more telling than earnings.