Milton (ASX: MLT), the listed investment company (LIC), has announced its FY20 result and cut its dividend. The Milton share price is currently flat in reaction.
Milton is one of the oldest LICs on the ASX. It was founded in 1938 and it has been listed since 1958.
Milton’s FY20 result
The LIC said that its operating revenue for FY20 was down 15% to $120.1 million and total investment revenue (including special dividends) was down 19% to $125.9 million. The company also saw lower revenue from its cash balances due to lower term deposit rates.
As you’d expect, this led to a fall in profit. Profit/earnings per share (EPS) excluding special investment income fell 17.3% to 16.6 cents. Including special investment income, EPS fell 21.4% to 17.45 cents.
Milton’s management expense ratio (MER) for the year was 0.14%, one of the lowest available MERs in the investment industry in Austrlaia. It doesn’t charge management or performance fees.
The LIC said that its total portfolio return for the 12-month period to 30 June 2020 was a decline of 9.8%. The total shareholder return was 9.4%. COVID-19 has clearly had a large impact on ASX shares and many Australian companies have suspended, delayed or eliminated dividends due to COVID-19 impacts.
During 2020 the company took deliberate steps to reduce its investment in retail banks due to concerns about long term earnings growth and the impact of technology. Retail banks like CBA (ASX: CBA) now represent only 17% of the portfolio down from 28% a year ago. Other investments will help grow income over time.
Milton made some new investments during the year including Pro Medicus (ASX: PME), Johns Lyng (ASX: JLG) and Magellan (ASX: MFG). Existing investments were also boosted in names like Macquarie (ASX: MQG) and Transurban (ASX: TCL).
Milton Managing Director Brendan O’Dea said: “These are highly unusual times for investors with a clear disconnect between expensive asset prices and a difficult short term earnings environment. Much of the recent asset prices is driven by the extraordinary actions of governments and central banks to support individuals affected by economic lockdowns with income support and low interest rates.
“Milton will continue to focus on growing our investments in companies with strong long term prospects, but expect this next period will be one of heightened volatility. We retain considerable cash balances and have the financial flexibility to invest should the right opportunities present.”
Milton dividend
Milton cut its final fully franked dividend by 18.3% to 8.5 cents. This brings the full year dividend to 17.5 cents, a payout ratio of 105.5% of underlying profit.
Summary
Milton believes FY21 earnings will be lower than FY20 due to lower dividend income received as companies continue to conserve cash. Milton’s returns will be guided by its underlying holdings. I like some of the new buys that the LIC has made recently, but it’s still heavily invested in slow growth businesses, so I’d rather look for other dividend shares like these which could be better income ideas for investors.
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