2 FTSE 100 income stocks yielding 7.4%+ I’d buy for an ISA

These two stocks might just be the best income plays in the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX).

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Time is running out to use your stocks and shares ISA allowance for the 2018/19 tax year.

If you are looking for ideas on where to invest your money, today I’m going to take a look at two FTSE 100 income stocks that I am considering adding to my own ISA.

Income champion

Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) currently supports one of the highest dividend yields in the FTSE 100.

At the time of writing the stock yields 10.1%, and it doesn’t look as if this is going to go away anytime soon. Indeed, as my Foolish colleague G A Chester recently pointed out, in February, Taylor reported record revenues for 2018 with profit margins and return on equity at “terrific levels” to borrow Chester’s phrase.

The company also informed investors that 2019 has got off to a “very positive start,” which seems to suggest that the firm is well on track to meeting City growth forecasts for the year. At the time of writing, analysts expect the enterprise to earn 20.5p for 2019 rising slightly to 21p for 2020.

That said, some analysts are concerned we are at the top of the cycle when it comes to housing in the UK, and a fall in demand could lead to a significant reduction in earnings for Taylor. While this is always going to be a risk, I think the company’s outlook is reasonably bright for the next two or three years as demand for housing in the UK remains robust particularly at the first time buyer end of the market, which is being supported by the government Help to Buy scheme — a substantial contributor to Taylor’s profitability last year.

Management is so confident the company won’t see a downturn anytime soon they have already declared that the business will distribute £600m of cash to shareholders in 2019, subject to shareholder approval.

Two years of special dividends

I think all UK homebuilders are currently undervalued, and that’s why I am also eyeing up Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) for my ISA today.

Barratt and Taylor have a lot in common. They both have a cash-rich balance sheet, high returns on equity, (thanks to the booming UK housing market) and are committed to returning all excess profits to investors. This year analysts believe the company will return a total of 44p per share, giving a dividend yield of 7.4% on the current share price.

We are only half way through Barratt’s 2019 financial year, but it already looks as if this is going to be a record fiscal period for the company.

Back in February, the business reported an increase in revenues for the first half of 7.2% and an improvement in the group’s operating profit margin of 1.3% to 19.2%. Profit before tax jumped 19.1%. Most importantly for dividend investors, at the end of December 2018, the company’s cash balance totalled £388m and management also reiterated its intention to pay out special dividends amounting £175m in November 2019 and £175m in November 2020.

With the company already committed to distributing £350m pounds to shareholders over the next two years, excluding its regular dividends, I think Barratt is a buy.

Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Growth Shares

2 of the cheapest FTSE 100 stocks to consider buying as we hit 2026

Jon Smith calls out a couple of FTSE 100 companies that have fallen in the past year that he believes…

Read more »

Tesla building with tesla logo and two teslas in front
Investing Articles

Why Tesla stock outperformed the S&P 500 — again — in 2025

As the Tesla share price shrugs off declining revenues and profits to climb 19%, what kind of further excitement will…

Read more »

Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

Thinking of investing in the stock market? Keep these basic rules in mind

Investing in the stock market can put investors on the fast track to building wealth and earning passive income. And…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
US Stock

This Dow Jones stock could be a dark horse outperformer for 2026

Jon Smith looks across the pond and spots a Dow Jones company that has fallen by 11% in the past…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Why Greggs shares crashed 40% in 2025

Greggs has more stores than it had a year ago and total sales are higher, so is a 40% discount…

Read more »

Man hanging in the balance over a log at seaside in Scotland
Investing Articles

4 pros and cons of buying Lloyds shares in 2026!

Investors piled into Lloyds shares last year as the bank delivered strong trading numbers in tough conditions. Could the FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Prediction: AI stocks will rise again in 2026 and Nvidia’s share price will soar to this level

Can Nvidia and other AI stocks continue to perform in 2026? Edward Sheldon believes so. Here, he explains why he’s…

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

3 S&P 500 growth stocks that could make index funds looks silly over the next 5 years

Edward Sheldon believes these three high-flying S&P 500 stocks have the potential to smash the market over the next five…

Read more »