We see RTX’s dividend as safe

Article Excerpt

RTX CORP. $105 is still a buy. The company (New York symbol RTX; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $157.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.4%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.rtx.com) is a leading maker of commercial aircraft equipment, electronic systems for military aircraft, and guided missiles. With the June 2024 payment, RTX will raise your quarterly dividend by 6.8%, to $0.63 a share from $0.59. The new annual rate of $2.52 yields 2.4%. The company’s Pratt & Whitney unit recently announced that contaminated metal in some engine parts will force it to remove and inspect between 600 and 700 jet engines over the next three years. Despite costs associated with the jet engine recall, RTX expects its free cash flow (regular cash flow less capital expenditures) for all of 2024 will total $5.7 billion. The company also recently sold its Cybersecurity, Intelligence and Services business for $1.3 billion. That cash will let RTX keep buying back its shares and raising your dividend. The…