After plunging 55%, does this stock’s eye-watering 10% yield offer a lucrative second income?

Mark Hartley is enticed by the potential second income offered by this FTSE 250 dividend stock. But is the falling share price an opportunity or should he be concerned?

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The recent stock market slump offers investors an excellent opportunity to build a second income from UK shares. There’s a wealth of quality stocks with super-high yields selling at cheap prices. 

Investment manager abrdn (LSE: ABDN) looks to me like it could fit the bill — but is there a future in it?

A difficult decade

The share price is down 55% in the past five years and 75% since an all-time high of £5.71 in May 2015. During that period, several notable developments have taken place.

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In 2017, Aberdeen Asset Management merged with the 200-year-old insurance firm Standard Life. A year later it sold the Standard Life business to refocus purely on asset management. 

Then, in July 2021, it controversially rebranded to abrdn.

Later that same year it acquired online trading platform interactive investor, further cementing its intentions to modernise. But the benefits of these developments are yet to materialise.

Despite all efforts, earnings continued to decline. To save money, it sold some of the business and in January, job losses ensued. 

Soon after, the CEO stepped down.

The modern name may have been a bit ahead of its time and out of place in the conventional financial world. However, as investing becomes more in vogue among younger generations, it could eventually be a boon for the company.

As of June 2024, abrdn held just over £500bn in assets under management (AUM), up 0.9% after a 1% decline in 2023.

Will the share price cover?

It’s often attractive to acquire shares while prices are cheap. It’s like a Black Friday special for the stock market. The problem is, unlike the latest TV or dishwasher, a stock is an investment. So I need the price to stop falling at some point.

The bonus is that a falling price naturally results in a rising dividend yield. So I get the promise of higher returns on an already cheap investment. The only return I get from a cheap TV is football scores and depressing news.

However, if the price continues to decline, then the dividend gains are all for nothing. And in the worst-case scenario, the company might cut dividends to reduce expenses. 

So I can’t just buy any old cheap share — I need to make sure there’s some chance of a turnaround in the near future.

For that, I need to value the share.

Valuation

abrdn’s trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 7.9, which would usually suggest good value. However, with earnings forecast to decline, its forward P/E ratio is 14.6, which is less impressive. It’s not terrible, it’s just not great. 

Revenue is also forecast to decline and return on equity is estimated to fall below 5% in three years. 

On the plus side, the company has a clean balance sheet, with little debt (£600m) and a LOT of cash (£1.4bn). This tells me that if nothing else, dividends are likely to continue uninterrupted. 

Still, I feel there remain too many concerns around the company’s operations. I like the high yield and would love to benefit from those returns but right now, it’s too risky.

If management stabilises and the AUM continues to rise, I may consider the stock in the future

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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.

Mark Hartley 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.

Pound coins for sale — 51 pence?

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p 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 8.5%, 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

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