The Dividend Daily

Late on Monday, consumer information and measurement firm Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NLSN) posted a drop in fourth-quarter profit that topped Wall Street views, but a rise in revenue slightly missed expectations. The company also declared its first dividend to be paid to shareholders.

The Netherlands-based company reported that its fourth-quarter profit fell to $39 million, or 11 cents per share, from $95 million, or 26 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company pulled in earnings of $234 million, or 62 cents per share, in the quarter. According to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, the company was expected to post a profit of 58 cents per share.

The decline in profit was significantly impacted by expenses totaling $121 million in the quarter.

Revenue for the quarter rose 3$ to $1.464 billion from $1.421 billion in year same quarter a year ago. Analysts were expecting Nielsen to post revenue of $1.48 billion.

Furthermore, for the first time Nielsen declared a cash dividend to be paid to shareholders on March 20 with an ex-dividend date of March 4. The company will be paying a quarterly dividend of 16 cents per share, which equates to an annualized dividend of 64 cents per share.

Nielsen shares were up 78 cents, or +2.39%, during morning trading on Tuesday. The stock is up +17% over the past year.

The Bottom Line
Shares of Nielsen Holdings (NLSN) will have a dividend yield of 1.91% based on Tuesday’s intraday trading price of $33.45 and the company’s new annualized dividend payout of 64 cents per share.

Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NLSN) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.

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