This is the fourth in a series of articles highlighting dividend growth companies that have large and durable economic advantages, or “moats”, that protect their business operations and allow years or decades of strong profitability. When looking for long-term investments, one typically wants to find a business that is performing well not simply because management is on top of their game right now, but rather because the business itself has fundamental and difficult-to-replicate advantages over its competitors. In the previous articles, examples of unrivaled economies of scale, powerful brands, and huge patent shields were provided.
Some companies have businesses where it’s naturally difficult to switch to a competitor. This increases pricing power and makes revenue more stable.
For example, if you’re running a business, and you’ve outsized most of your human resource operations to another company, it would be a large hassle to switch to their competitor. They’d have to mess up rather terribly to get you to switch; minor price increases wouldn’t be enough. Or, for a consumer example, if you have money saved in a bank, have credit cards and checks with that bank, then switching is a hassle. As long as they’re operating reasonably well, you’re not going to switch.
This is in contrast to, for example, buying Pepsico (PEP) products or shopping at Costco (COST). They may have other economic advantages, like brand strength and scale, but their switching costs are fairly low. If at any time a competitor was superior in your eyes, you could easily switch with little or no cost or difficulty for yourself simply by buying a competitor’s products next time.
Below are five examples of dividend growth companies that have high switching costs:
Automatic Data Processing
Automatic Data Processing (ADP), is the aforementioned business outsourcing company. They handle human resource needs, payroll, computing processes, direct deposits, tax reports, employee time and attendance, hiring services, record-keeping, and some other software services. ADP is five times larger than their largest direct competitor.
The company has more than three decades of consecutive annual dividend growth, and is one of only four non-financial U.S. companies with an AAA credit rating. Low interest rates are currently negatively affecting ADP, since they hold tens of billions of dollars worth of client funds and then invest them in conservative and liquid interest-producing securities, but for the long term, ADP’s position looks rock solid.
Dividend Yield: 2.94%
Total Debt/Equity: 0%
Price to Free Cash Flow (FCF) Ratio: 17.2
Dividend Payout Ratio: 47%
Most Recent Dividend Increase: 9.7%
Full Automatic Data Processing Analysis
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft (MSFT) has set up a near monopoly on the business personal computing environment. Employees become trained in using certain software, and so switching software requires substantial re-training, especially for a large enterprise. I’ll tell you right now as an engineer, my organization is currently undergoing an unrelated but rather major software switch and the time-cost of this is rather enormous. And major enterprise IT hardware/software capital investments can last for a while.
At least, that’s how it worked for the last decade, but the company faces new challenges today. Microsoft’s moat with regards to consumer software may be threatened by the various free options available, but their business position remains strong, and any reductions in Windows sales are being balanced out by increases in the Server and Tools division. It’s the business environment rather than the consumer market where software moats can be formed.
A few key estimates and facts released by Microsoft with regards to 2011 fiscal year performance:
-The Windows segment revenue was slightly down, and operating income was modestly down, mainly due to a problematic PC market. The company estimates that PC sales to businesses grew by 11% compared to the previous year, but that PCs sold to consumers fell by 1%, with the biggest loss coming from netbooks. Overall, PC sales were slightly up, but the bulk was in emerging markets where prices are lower.
-The Server and Tools Division, Business Division (Office), and Entertainment Division all posted very strong growth in 2011.
-The Online Services Division continued to lose money.
Dividend Yield: 2.56%
Total Debt/Equity: 19%
Price to FCF Ratio: 9.8
FCF Dividend Payout Ratio: 22%
Most Recent Dividend Increase: 25%
Realty Income Corp
Real estate can naturally result in high switching costs. Realty Income (O) is a REIT that owns over 2,600 properties in 49 states, and leases these spaces out to commercial tenants. Moving is a hassle for a family, but the hassle is even greater for commercial tenant that tries to move a business. Plus, Realty Income signs long term leases and is known for high occupancy rates, large diversification, and a well-run business.
Realty Income, known as “The Monthly Dividend Company” pays out a dividend every month of the year and has a pretty good record of increasing their distributions annually. With a nearly $5 billion market capitalization, Realty Income Corp is a decently large REIT.
Dividend Yield: 4.79%
Most Recent Dividend Increase: <1%
National Health Investors Inc
National Health Investors (NHI) is another REIT, and one with a larger dividend yield and more dividend growth. This business focuses on long-term care and senior housing, which naturally results in high switching costs. NHI owns properties directly and also invests via mortgages. With over 100 properties in over 20 states, the business is rather diversified. The largest chunk of their property interest consists of skilled nursing facilities, but they also own over 30 assisted living facilities, and a handful of medical offices and acute care facilities.
NHI’s dividend procedure is a bit noteworthy, and in my opinion, very smart. They pay out regular quarterly dividends, which they typically increase annually. On top of that, they often pay an annual special dividend to relieve extra capital and provide more income for the owners. This is a strategy that from a dividend growth investing viewpoint, I wish more regular companies would utilize. NHI represents an example of a business that has strong defenses without being particularly large, which is why I’ve selected it for this article over some larger health care REITs.
Dividend Yield: 5.52%
Most Recent Dividend Increase: 5.7% (and if counting the special dividend, 15%)
AT&T Inc.
AT&T (T) is a large telecommunications company that provides wireless data/voice services, wired data/voice services, and advertising publishing. Switching costs are low-to-moderate for consumers, because contracts are often signed but can be fairly easily switched away from at expiration. Switching costs for businesses are more substantial; both wireless and wired services are rather “sticky” with business customers.
Losing exclusivity with Apple products is a setback, and the company does have substantial debt and retirement benefit liabilities. But the interest coverage ratio remains strong, and the dividend continues to grow and is comfortably covered by free cash flow. Increasing amounts of bandwidth usage and increasing levels of technological sophistication among business and consumer mobile phones are good trends for the company.
Dividend Yield: 5.81%
Total Debt/Equity: 63%
Price to FCF Ratio: 12.0
FCF Dividend Payout Ratio: 67%
Most Recent Dividend Increase: 2.3%
Keep in mind that a good company only makes a good long-term investment if it’s purchased at a reasonable price, so readers should only buy when they consider valuations to be appropriate.
Full Disclosure: At the time of this writing, I own shares of MSFT.
You can see my dividend portfolio here.
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defensiven
excellent series! Regarding switching cost in the telecom sector Ive been trying to change my swedish telecommunications provider (while keeping my number) multiple times without succcess.
Another observation is that it can be troublesome to change broadband provider. Many (including myself admitedly) sign up for long binding periods (like 24 months) in order to get a perk like 1 month free. For me the change of broadband provider also meant that I had to send my modem back and get a new one. I think these transaction costs are keeping turnover quite low even as the products are nearly identical.
Matt
My internet provider has given me all sorts of issues and yet I’m still with them. High switching costs, as you point out.
They raised my rates on me, their modem failed and I had to get it replaced, and it took them multiple attempts to solve a problem.
I often call and negotiate with them. They’re rather malleable when you give them a hard time, at least in my experience.
Dividend Mantra
Good stuff!
I missed the boat a bit on MSFT. That sucker popped fast and furious.
I like ADP, but just have not been able to find an attractive entry point over the last year or so. It’s just pricey for the yield, growth and earnings right now. Solid company with a great balance sheet, however. I don’t mind paying up for quality, but I have a fairly lengthy list of companies I’ll pay up for ahead of ADP.
I would say ADP is a premier example of a business with high switching costs.
Best wishes!
Matt
I agree. ADP is a company I’d love to own… at the right price. The company has multiple moats, and as you point out, pretty much as the highest switching costs around. So I enjoyed using it as the primary example.
Microsoft unfortunately did have that large spike in price, and so did Intel at the same time. It’s a shame, because I’ve been buying the stock and I want it to stay low as long as possible. I do still view it as attractively valued in the low $30’s though, for people that have an interest in the industry.
Steve
THANKS FOR POSTING THIS!
We’ve been all over this as well on Common Cents…
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com