SmarterDividends
MGF

MFS Government Markets Income Trust

MGF

Financial Services · Stock · monthly payer

Forward Yield

8.03%

Annual Dividend

$0.23

Payout Ratio

145%

5-Yr Growth

-8.1%

Ex-Date

Jun 16, 2026

Frequency

Monthly

MGF Dividend Safety Score

51/ 100
Grade C

Borderline

Dividend-growth streak0 consecutive years of growth
Cut historyCut its dividend in 2025
Earnings payout coverage145% of earnings paid out
Yield vs its historyYield in line with its history

SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.

Dividend Growth

Total dividends per share by year

Is MGF a good dividend stock?

Mixed

MFS Government Markets Income Trust (MGF) pays a monthly dividend yielding 8.03% ($0.23/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal.

Advantages

    Risks

    • Cut its dividend in 2025
    • Elevated payout ratio (145%)
    • Dividend has been shrinking, not growing
    • Very high yield can signal elevated risk
    • Share price is down over the past 5 years

    Key Data

    Dividend Yield
    8.03%
    Payout Ratio
    145%
    Annual Dividend
    $0.23
    5-Yr Avg Growth
    -8.1%
    Ex-Dividend Date
    Jun 16, 2026
    Years of Growth
    0
    Frequency
    monthly
    Beta
    0.34
    Market Cap
    $92.9M
    P/E Ratio
    17.8
    5-Yr Total Return
    -36%
    52-Week Range
    $2.82 – $3.14
    Dividend Safety
    C · 51/100
    Ever Cut?
    Yes (2025)
    MGF ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Jun 16, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Income Calculator

    At $0.23 / yr per share

    Per payment (monthly)$1.92
    Annual$23.00
    Monthly avg$1.92