Why I’d buy and hold cheap dividend stocks to make a passive income

I think that seeking to make a passive income from purchasing cheap dividend stocks could be a sound strategy over the long run.

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.

Making a passive income from cheap dividend stocks could be a neat solution to a challenging problem currently facing many investors.

The income returns on other mainstream assets, such as cash and bonds, are relatively low. By contrast, many dividend shares offer high yields, as well as long track records of reliable shareholder payouts.

Furthermore, the high yields on offer from dividend stocks suggest that they are cheap. This may mean they provide scope for capital growth in the coming years.

Making a passive income from cheap dividend stocks

Cheap dividend stocks provide a simple means of obtaining a relatively high passive income in 2021 and in the coming years. The 2020 stock market crash has left investors feeling downbeat towards a number of sectors. As a result, companies in industries such as financial services, defence and oil and gas currently have yields that are significantly higher than their historic averages. This could mean that an investor is able to enjoy a high income return simply from owning a diverse range of shares.

Of course, some companies with high dividend yields may face uncertain financial outlooks in the short run. This may mean that their dividends fail to grow at a rapid pace. However, those companies that have very affordable shareholder payouts alongside their high yields may offer attractive risk/reward opportunities. Investors may have factored in the risks they face through cheaper share prices, while their high dividend yields may be sufficient reward for higher risks.

A reliable track record of dividend growth

Cheap dividend stocks could also offer a worthwhile passive income because of their solid track records of shareholder payouts. As mentioned, some sectors are facing difficult near-term outlooks. However, some of the companies operating within them have good form when it comes to maintaining dividend payouts amid uncertain operating environments. In some cases, they may even have been able to raise dividends in the past despite tough sales and profit prospects.

Such companies may, therefore, offer more resilient income outlooks than investors are currently pricing in. The end result could be that they are undervalued at today’s price levels. This may mean that they are able to offer a high, and dependable, passive income stream in the coming years.

Cheap dividend stocks offer capital growth

Cheap dividend stocks may offer much more than just a passive income over the long run though. Their high yields may mean that they offer wide margins of safety that equate to scope for capital growth in future. Therefore, a strategy that seeks to buy and hold them over the long run could deliver attractive total returns that are significantly ahead of other mainstream assets. The end result could be a positive impact on investor portfolios in 2021 and in the coming years.

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

Emma Raducanu for Vodafone billboard animation at Piccadilly Circus, London
Investing Articles

Up 40% this year, can the Vodafone share price keep going?

Vodafone shareholders have been rewarded this year with a dividend increase on top of share price growth. Our writer weighs…

Read more »

Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

Here’s why I like Tesco shares, but won’t be buying any!

Drawing inspiration from famed investor Warren Buffett's approach, our writer explains why Tesco shares aren't on his shopping list.

Read more »

Investing For Beginners

If the HSBC share price can clear these hurdles, it could fly in 2026

After a fantastic year, Jon Smith points out some of the potential road bumps for the HSBC share price, including…

Read more »

Investing Articles

I’m thrilled I bought Rolls-Royce shares in 2023. Will I buy more in 2026?

Rolls-Royce has become a superior company, with rising profits, buybacks, and shares now paying a dividend. So is the FTSE…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

With Warren Buffett about to step down, what can investors learn?

Legendary investor Warren Buffett is about to hand over the reins of Berkshire Hathaway after decades in charge. How might…

Read more »

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

I asked ChatGPT for the perfect passive income ISA and it said…

Which 10 passive income stocks did the world's most popular artificial intelligence chatbot pick for a Stocks and Shares ISA?

Read more »

Tŵr Mawr lighthouse (meaning "great tower" in Welsh), on Ynys Llanddwyn on Anglesey, Wales, marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait.
Investing Articles

How I generated a 66.6% return in my SIPP in 2025 (and my strategy for 2026!)

By focusing on undervalued, high-potential stocks, this writer achieved market-beating SIPP returns in 2025 – here’s how he aims to…

Read more »

Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

New to the stock market? Here’s how you can give yourself a huge advantage

Stock market crashes can make buying shares intimidating. But investors don’t need specialist skills or knowledge to give themselves a big…

Read more »