In today’s low-interest-rate environment, it’s difficult to find a place to stash your cash that provides an attractive interest rate or yield.
But there are some opportunities out there. Here are five equities which all support a dividend yield of 5% or more.
Business overhaul
Connect (LSE: CNCT) has undergone a huge transformation over the past few years although it looks as if the market remains sceptical about the company’s ability to successfully transform itself into a sustainable distribution business.
However, as an income investment, Connect ticks all the boxes. The company’s shares currently support a dividend yield of 5.8% and the payout is covered twice by earnings per share — a ratio which gives the company plenty of room for manoeuvre if things don’t go to plan. This year, City analysts expect the company to report a pre-tax profit of £61m, implying that the group will have doubled pre-tax profit in six years. Shares in Connect currently trade at a forward P/E of 8.2.
Hard times
Shares in Alternative Networks (LSE: AN) are down by more than a third this after the company warned on trading at the end of February.
City analysts now expect the company’s earnings per share to decline by 7% for the year ending 30 September 2016, although after this blip analysts have pencilled-in earnings growth of 13% for 2017. Based on these figures, Alternative Networks is trading at a forward P/E of 12.5 and analysts believe the company’s shares will support a yield of 5.7% next year. The payout will be covered one-and-half times by earnings per share.
Retail troubles
N Brown (LSE: BWNG) has underperformed this year due to concerns about the quality of the company’s credit portfolio and general retail sector concerns. Still, after recent concerns shares in the company now trade at a relatively attractive forward P/E of 9.9 and support a dividend yield of 6%. The payout is covered 1.7 times by earnings per share. City analysts have pencilled-in a dividend increase of 1% for 2017.
Unfortunately, when it comes to growth N Brown doesn’t look to overly attractive. City analysts expect the company’s earnings per share to grow by 1% for the year ending 28 February 2017, before ticking higher by 9% for the year after. Over the past five years, N Brown’s pre-tax profit has fallen by £11.1m.
Housing boom
Home builder Berkeley (LSE: BKG) is reaping the benefits of the UK’s housing boom and the company is returning the majority of its excess profits to investors.
Over the past five years the company’s dividend yield has surged from zero to just under £2 per share. This payout equates to a dividend yield of 6.3% at current prices and is covered twice by earnings per share. Shares in Berkeley currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.5.
Scope to grow
Unlike almost all of its listed retail peers, McColl’s (LSE: MCLS) hasn’t cut its dividend payout recently. The company’s shares currently support a dividend yield of 6.6% and the payout is covered one-and-a-half times by earnings per share. City analysts aren’t expecting the company to increase its per share payout anytime soon.
So, if you’re looking for a company that has the scope to grow its payout, McColl’s might not be the income play for you. Nonetheless, shares in McColl’s could be too cheap to pass up as they currently trade at a forward P/E of 9.7.
