What is the historical track record of Assurant's dividend payments and any recent changes to the schedule or amount?
Dividend history & recent change
Assurant (NYSE AIZ) has been a reliable quarterly payer for more than a decade, maintaining a streak of uninterrupted dividends since the company reinstated its policy in 2015. Over that period the payout has generally risen in line with earnings growth, moving from a modest $0.25 per share in 2015 to $0.75 per share in early‑2024. The board’s latest announcement on 29 Sep 2025 raises the quarterly amount to $0.80 per share—a 6.7 % increase from the $0.75 level that had been in place for the previous twelve months. The schedule remains unchanged (payable on the last business day of the month, record date the preceding week), so investors can still count on a steady quarterly cadence.
Trading implications
The modest bump in the dividend signals management’s confidence that cash flow and earnings are solid enough to support a slightly higher payout ratio (now hovering around 55‑60 % of net income). For income‑focused investors, the new $0.80 dividend translates to a ~3.2 % yield on the current price, which is above the sector average of ~2.5 % and offers a defensive edge in a volatile market. Technically, AIZ has been trading in a tight range between $70‑$78, with the 50‑day SMA near $73 and the 200‑day SMA around $71, indicating a neutral bias. A pull‑back toward the 200‑day SMA with volume support could present a low‑risk entry for a dividend‑capture strategy, while a breakout above $78 with momentum could push the price toward the $80‑$85 zone, where the yield would compress but the total‑return potential improves.
Actionable take‑away
- Buy on dips near the 200‑day SMA (~$71) if you’re targeting a ~3 % yield and expect the dividend to hold steady.
- Hold if you’re already positioned, as the incremental $0.05 increase adds modest upside without materially raising the payout ratio.
- Watch the upcoming earnings release (late Q4 2025) for any guidance on cash‑flow trends; a strong result would reinforce the dividend’s sustainability, while a miss could trigger a re‑evaluation of the payout and pressure the stock lower.