If you’re looking for high-yield dividend stocks that sport yields of 5%, or higher, you’ll find no shortage of options within the FTSE 100. According to Stockopedia, there are currently 29 companies within the index that offer such rolling yields.
However, some of these stocks are likely to be better dividend investments than others. Many of these companies face considerable headwinds at present which means their payouts may not be sustainable. With that in mind, I reveal my top high-yield FTSE 100 dividend stock right now.
High-yield FTSE 100 stocks
Screening that list of 29 names for companies with rolling dividend coverage of 1.5 times or more (the minimum level I’m generally comfortable with for dividend safety) chops the list down to 12 names. Sorted by market-cap, these are:
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Now looking at that list, a number of those companies face near-term headwinds. For example, British American Tobacco is facing declining smoking rates; Lloyds faces Brexit uncertainty; BT has a ton of debt and a huge pension deficit; and Carnival recently issued a profit warning. So, you do have to be careful investing in these kinds of companies.
To my mind, the most attractive stock pick from that list is Legal & General (LSE: LGEN). If I was looking for a high-yield FTSE 100 stock to invest in today, I’d go with the financial services giant.
Diversified business
What I like about Legal & General is that it’s a diversified business. Not only is it one of the largest asset managers in the UK, but it’s also a major player in insurance, retirement solutions, and pension risk transfer (it describes the opportunity in its retirement segment as “immense’). I see this diversification as a plus from a dividend-investing perspective, as it means there’s less chance of profits taking a significant hit.
Of course, LGEN still faces risks. For example, if the stock market takes a dive, the group’s profits are likely to fall because a proportion of its profits are linked to assets under management. However, compared to many other high-yielders, there’s less risk, in my view.
Attractive dividend
Turning to the dividend itself, there’s a lot I like about Legal & General. For starters, the yield is far higher than the average FTSE 100 yield. And dividend coverage is solid, which suggests the payout is sustainable.
Furthermore, the company has a solid dividend growth track record, having strung together nine consecutive increases now (you can be sure that management will be keen to hit 10). Analysts expect healthy dividend growth this year and next, meaning the payout should provide inflation protection going forward.
Bargain valuation
Finally, the valuation looks highly attractive. Right now, the stock trades on a P/E of just eight, which I see as a bargain. All things considered, I believe Legal & General is a top high-yield play.
