Berkeley’s share price slips on results-day, but the dividend yields almost 5%!

Despite a weak share price, housebuilder Berkeley is shaping up as a decent dividend-payer within the FTSE 100 index.

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One thing housebuilding companies have in common is weak share prices of late, including brownfield developer Berkeley (LSE: BKG).

The firm delivered its full-year results report today (19 June) and the market pushed the stock almost 5% lower in morning trading.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Berkeley Group Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

However, that’s just ‘noise’. The business is performing well considering the difficult conditions in the sector. And the company has been rewarding shareholders via dividends and share buybacks.

Should you invest £1,000 in Berkeley Group right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Berkeley Group made the list?

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Decent shareholder returns

For the trading year to 30 April 2024, total ordinary dividends will be worth 92p per share, up from 91p the year before.

That’s modest progress, but Berkley also plans to pay a special dividend of 174p per share in September 2024. On top of that, the firm spent just over £72m buying back its own shares during the year and around £155m the previous year.

Share buyback programmes can be controversial because sometimes companies get carried away and buy back shares when the market has a high valuation on the stock.

However, that doesn’t look like the case with Berkeley. So reducing the share count may be a good thing. The money for dividends will be distributed over fewer shares, which pushes up the payment for each one.

For dividend-hunting investors, I think Berkeley looks attractive. With the share price near 4,802p, the ordinary dividend is yielding in the ballpark of 2%. But adding in special dividends, the anticipated yield jumps to almost 5%.

The company said it’s “on track” to continue with the current shareholder returns programme into the future. However, the intention is to “remain agile” and ready to switch the emphasis to invest in value-accretive opportunities when they arise.

Investing for growth

If the company can’t find ways of investing money to produce risk-adjusted returns, it has the policy of returning surplus capital to shareholders. However, the business now plans to develop its own build-to-rent platform, “alongside its core trading business”. Therefore, from 2027, surplus capital will be allocated to that project.

It’s an “attractive” opportunity to maximise the value of Berkeley’s brownfield regeneration sites, the directors said.

During the year, 87% of the homes built by the business were on regenerated brownfield land. But will the new build-to-rent platform suck money from shareholder returns?

There’s some risk of that. But the project is aimed at enhancing the growth prospects and overall returns of the business. So it may boost returns for shareholders in the long run.

Chief executive Rob Perrins said the company has a clear capital allocation strategy. First, it ensures financial strength reflects the cyclical nature and complexity of brownfield development and is appropriate for the prevailing operating environment.  Second, it invests in land and work in progress at the “right” time. Third, it makes returns to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

As with all companies in the sector, Berkeley comes with risks for shareholders, not least of which is the fierce cyclicality in homebuilding.

However, on balance, I see the stock as worth further and deeper research with a view to adding some of the shares to a diversified portfolio focused on the long term.

Like buying £1 for 31p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this Share Advisor pick has a price/book ratio of 0.31. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 31p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 10%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Kevin Godbold has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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