A Likely Dividend Cut for This 18% Yielder?

2020 will likely bring a dividend cut for this high-yielding stock...  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Browser View]( [Wealthy Retirement]( A Likely Dividend Cut for This 18% Yielder? Marc Lichtenfeld, Chief Income Strategist, The Oxford Club [One Quick Question]( Do you believe adding an extra $50K to your income THIS YEAR is possible? [Click here for YES.]( Or... [Click here for NO.]( (Whichever you choose, you should [see this "guarantee" on how to achieve the extra $50K](.)   [Marc Lichtenfeld]  Assessing the safety of a company's dividend during these times is difficult. Many companies have withdrawn guidance, as it is nearly impossible to know how a business's customers will respond over the next six to 12 months. However, there are some instances when determining the prospects of a company's dividend is not terribly hard. That's the case with Prospect Capital (Nasdaq: PSEC), which is likely facing a dividend cut in the next 12 months. Prospect Capital is a business development company (BDC). It mostly lends money to a wide variety of businesses, though it will occasionally take an equity position.  Its portfolio includes... - An equity stake in Ark-La-Tex Wireline Services LLC, a 31-year-old oil field services company based in Shreveport, Louisiana - Secured debt in EXC Holdings III, which manufactures electronic components - Secured debt in Versant Health Holdco, which provides vision and eye health plans. Last year, Prospect Capital paid out $245 million in dividends off $313 million in net investment income. Net investment income is what we use to measure a BDC's ability to pay its dividend. So in 2019, the company was able to afford what it paid out to shareholders. This year is anyone's guess. Management has not provided guidance for 2020, and there are no Wall Street estimates. But you don't need an MBA from Wharton to know that net investment income is likely to be down this year, as surely some companies in its portfolio will not be able to make their interest payments.  [The #1 Tech Stock to Buy During the Coronavirus Crash]( It's a key player in a market that's positioned to grow 1,513%. Its customers include Roku, DirecTV, BBC, Marvel Entertainment, Cigna, Tencent and many others. It has exposure to 5G, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and numerous other sectors pegged to explode in the near future. And it's the leading provider of a powerful type of technology that could prove ESSENTIAL in the chaotic weeks ahead. [Details revealed here...](  Prospect Capital has its own interest obligations. It has a lot of debt. In fact, it has 7 1/2 times more debt than earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). Prospect will have to continue to service that debt no matter what its borrowers are doing. And that will likely cause the dividend to be reduced. It wouldn't be the first time, either. Management has slashed the dividend multiple times already in the previous decade. So it probably wouldn't hesitate to do so again.  [Chart - Prospect Capital's Annual Dividend per Share ]  The stock currently comes with a monthly dividend of $0.06 per share, which equals an annual yield of 18%. Prospect Capital could cut the dividend in half and it would still be a very attractive 9%. Considering its high debt load, its likelihood of reduced net investment income and its tendency to lower the dividend when times get tough, Prospect Capital's dividend cannot be considered safe. Expect a dividend cut in the next 12 months. Dividend Safety Rating: F  [Dividend Grade Guide]  If you have a stock whose dividend safety you'd like me to analyze, leave the ticker symbol in the [comments]( section. Good investing, Marc P.S. 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