Are you looking for companies with reliably growing earnings and dividends?
These three property stocks may just scratch that itch, having reported decent earnings and dividend growth in their latest reports.
Dexus Property Group (ASX: DXS) saw Funds From Operations, the group's preferred measure of profitability, soar 25.4% to $258.4 million, while dividend payouts increased the same percentage to a total of $178.2 million.
Gearing rose roughly in line with profits, and now sits at approximately 30% of the company's total assets.
With a 5% share buyback on the cards and a very strong half-year report under its belt, DEXUS looks likely to continue growing its earnings in future reporting periods.
Unfortunately shares have climbed heavily in the past few months, but the company still offers a 5.1% unfranked dividend yield.
Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) also delivered very strong half-year results, with statutory profit climbing 55% thanks to an income tax benefit, while underlying profit still rose an impressive 8.5%.
To allow comparison with DEXUS Property Group, Stockland's Funds From Operations actually rose 12% during the past six months.
Dividends remained unchanged from the prior reporting period, but investors should expect an increase if the first half's strong performance continues for the rest of the year.
Some strategic sales and acquisitions during the half, including divestment of its stake in Australand, see Stockland well-funded for investment in additional growth opportunities.
Stockland is another one that looks likely to deliver increasing earnings in future periods, and, like DEXUS, it has climbed 20% in the past 12 months and also offers a 5.1% unfranked dividend.
Last but not least, GPT Group (ASX: GPT) actually reported its full-year results in February.
While more modest than its two peers above, GPT still recorded a 4.1% increase in Funds From Operations per security, whilst a strong dividend delivered total returns of 9.6% (not counting share price increases of 26%).
With modest gearing of 26%, management noted that GPT had a strong capital position even as economic fundamentals for the business remain mixed.
Nevertheless, GPT is well positioned to deliver strong returns again in 2015, with management targeting 5% growth in FFO and a total return of more than 9%. Having risen the most out of the three companies in today's article, GPT offers the lowest dividend at 4.5% unfranked.
As the wisest investors know, steadily rising earnings and dividends combined with the magic of compound interest are the best way to deliver independent wealth to shareholders. For instance if GPT was able to continually reach its 9% total return target, you could theoretically double your investment in just eight years.
And if these three property titans got your investing juices flowing, you'd better check out The Motley Fool's FREE report 3 Top Dividend Stocks for some more dividend goodness.
