Many of its broadcaster clients have cut or suspended dividend payments, but Arbitron is still sending cash out to its shareholders. The ratings company announced board approval of a regular quarterly payment of 10 cents per share.
The annualized payout of 40 cents per share, which has been in place for some time now, works out to a yield of about 2.1%. With 26.5 million shares outstanding, Arbitron will be sending $10.6 million to shareholders this year in dividend checks. (Actually, cash transfers, although its possible that a few people still insist on paper checks.)
Arbitron will make its quarterly payment of 10 cents per share on or about October 1st to shareholders of record on September 15th.
RBR/TVBR observation: There was a time when some radio stocks were being touted as a dividend play, with payouts that looked more like attractive CD rates. No more. We wonder how long it will be before any broadcaster who suspended dividend payments is confident enough to resume them.
