Can CapitaLand push its dividends higher?

It has unrecognised revenue worth $3.8b from China and Vietnam.

Upon the release of CapitaLand's results, the company also announced a dividend of 12 cents per share, 20% higher than the 2016 amount.

DBS Equity Research thinks the dividend hike is a "nice surprise" that the group can sustain in 2018.

According to a report, CapitaLand can have stronger recurring income from its investment portfolio, given improving business fundamentals.

The dividend hike can be sustained through gains from the sale of 20 retail malls to be completed in 1H2018 and improving operational performance for recently completed retail malls.

Unrecognised revenues of around $3.8b from China and Vietnam offer strong income visibility.