The ASX dividend share Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) looks to me like a top contender for large dividend income in the coming years.
It may not be one of the most well-known retailers in Australia, but I think it's building a fantastic record as an option for passive income.
The company says that it owns a portfolio of premium youth fashion brands and omni-channel retail and wholesale businesses. The company's key businesses are Universal Store and Perfect Strangers, with CTC (trading as the THRILLS and Worship brands) also playing a part.
It had 112 stores across Australia at the last count. It says its strategy is to grow and develop its premium youth fashion apparel brands and retail formats to deliver a carefully curated selection of on-trend apparel products to a target 16 to 35-year-old fashion-focused customer.
Let's get into why the business is such an attractive ASX dividend share.
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Strong dividend
When it comes to the dividend, there are (at least) two key features that may appeal to investors. First, the size of the dividend yield. Second, the likelihood of dividend growth each year.
Impressively, the business has grown its annual dividend per share every year since 2021, which is when it first started paying a dividend. There are plenty of businesses that have given investors a dividend cut since the onset of COVID-19 such as Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS). Universal Store is not one of them.
The company has given investors dividend growth and more is expected.
According to the forecasts on Commsec, the ASX dividend share could pay an annual dividend per share of 39.1 cents in FY26, 45.8 cents per share in FY27 and 49.7 cents per share in FY28.
That means, at the time of writing, the current Universal Store share price and projected payout for FY28 translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of close to 8%, including franking credits.
While there may be a few businesses with a larger dividend yield than Universal Store, hardly any have been as consistent or delivered as much earnings growth.
The ASX dividend share is delivering earnings growth
I'm very impressed by the results the company is delivering for investors.
In the FY25 result, the company grew its group sales by 15.5% to $333.3 million, helping underlying net profit increase by 15.2% to $34.8 million. Within that, the gross profit margin improved by 100 basis points (1.00%) to 61.1% and Perfect Stranger's sales soared 83.1% to $25.5 million.
Customers clearly love the products on offer, so the business seemingly just needs to continue rolling out Universal Store and Perfect Stranger locations to drive continued growth for the foreseeable future.
At the rate Perfect Stranger is growing sales, I think the market could be underestimating how much this segment could grow over the next five years.
