How Safe is CenturyLink’s Dividend?

Contrary to many investors' expectations, CenturyLink's (NYSE: CTL) stock has been pummeled recently, even after completing its transformative acquisition of Level 3 Communications. With its heavy debt load and dividend yield now around a whopping 15%, many are speculating CenturyLink's $2.16 per share annual dividend might be cut.

Still, on its first post-merger earnings call, incoming CEO Jeff Storey said, "As I look at our financial plans over the next few years, I'm confident about our ability to meet the dividend obligation and believe it is an important component of our equity story."

So, let's dig into the numbers and see if "Storey's story" checks out.

Source: Fool.com