Billionaire Warren Buffett owns this stock with a 60% dividend yield!

Warren Buffett’s stake in Coca-Cola pays him a handsome amount of passive income every year. This Fool explains how.

| 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.

Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

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.

Investors seeking inspiration in the stock market, they should look no further than Warren Buffett.

He’s arguably one of the best stock pickers of all time. His company Berkshire Hathaway has long produced returns that have comfortably trumped the market.

Alongside seeking out stocks that can bag him incredible returns, Buffett loves to make passive income. And today his investment in Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO.) yields a staggering 59.7%.

Should you invest £1,000 in Legal & General right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Legal & General made the list?

See the 6 stocks

A whopping payout

Readers may wonder how that’s possible. Well, let me explain.

Buffett first snapped up its shares back in 1988. Over the next few decades, he slowly built up his position. Today, he owns over 400m shares worth over $24.7bn.

This year, he’s set to receive $776m in dividends from his investment. For us mere mortals, the Coca-Cola yield stands at 3.1%. For Buffett, that means he’s in line to receive back just shy of 60% of his $1.3bn investment through dividends. Incredible.

Lessons to learn

But what does this tell us?

Well, first it shows that playing the long game is effective. For starters, the value of Buffett’s investment has risen massively in 36 years. During that time, the Coca-Cola share price has gone through numerous peaks and troughs. But those are ironed out over a longer timeframe. His average buy price is $32.90. Today, a share costs $63.90.

It also shows that targeting shares that pay a dividend is an incredible way to start generating a second income. The ‘Oracle of Omaha’ owns plenty of other stocks that also have bulky yields, such as Citi Group, Chevron, and Kraft Heinz.

It’s something I’ve tried to do with my own portfolio. That’s why around 75% of the stocks I own pay a dividend.

One to consider?

Buffett’s investment in Coca-Cola is inspiring. It has me wondering whether it’s a stock worth considering today.

There’s plenty to like about the business. It’s a renowned brand and that gives it a competitive advantage. Last year, despite a tough trading environment, it grew its revenue by 6% to $45.8bn.

In Q1 this year, Coca-Cola delivered revenue growth of 3% to $11.3bn while earnings per share also grew 3% to $0.74. This shows that demand for its products has remained steady despite economic uncertainty. It’s no surprise given that over 1.9bn servings of its drinks are consumed in over 200 countries every day.

There’s also its dividend track record. Its yield is by no means the highest out there. However, it has increased its payout for 62 years on the trot. Dividends are never guaranteed, so a record like that is worth its weight in gold. It’s for such reasons that I suspect Buffett is such a big fan of the stock.

Potential issues?

I do see some potential threats to the business. The largest one is shifting consumer habits. Many Coca-Cola products are high in sugar and aren’t associated with a healthy lifestyle.

The stock also looks on the expensive side. It trades on 25.7 times earnings. That’s above the S&P 500 average of around 23.

But I’d still buy it today if I had the cash. Coca-Cola is a quality business and brand. And if it’s good enough for Buffett, it’s good enough for me.

Should you buy Legal & General shares today?

Before you decide, please take a moment to review this first.

Because my colleague Mark Rogers – The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing – has released this special report.

It’s called ‘5 Stocks for Trying to Build Wealth After 50’.

And it’s yours, free.

Of course, the decade ahead looks hazardous. What with inflation recently hitting 40-year highs, a ‘cost of living crisis’ and threat of a new Cold War, knowing where to invest has never been trickier.

And yet, despite the UK stock market recently hitting a new all-time high, Mark and his team think many shares still trade at a substantial discount, offering savvy investors plenty of potential opportunities to strike.

That’s why now could be an ideal time to secure this valuable investment research.

Mark’s ‘Foolish’ analysts have scoured the markets low and high.

This special report reveals 5 of his favourite long-term ‘Buys’.

Please, don’t make any big decisions before seeing them.

Claim your free copy now

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Charlie Keough has no position in any of the shares 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.

We think earning passive income has never been easier

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

At a 52-week low but forecast to rise 73%! Is this growth share the FTSE’s top recovery play? 

This FTSE 100 growth share has taken an absolute beating over the past two years but Harvey Jones says the…

Read more »

Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 share offers a juicy 9.8% yield. Will it last?

This well-known FTSE 250 share has a percentage dividend yield approaching double digits. Should Christopher Ruane add the income share…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is a £333,000 portfolio enough to retire and live off passive income?

A third of a million pounds can generate a serious amount of passive income, but relying on this sum alone…

Read more »

The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing For Beginners

Why FTSE 100 investors should pay attention to ‘Liberation Day’

Jon Smith explains why the upcoming tariff announcement from across the pond could have an impact on the FTSE 100,…

Read more »

Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

Here’s why Nvidia stock fell 13% in March

The Nvidia stock price rise was looking unstoppable. Should investors now be wondering if the same might be true of…

Read more »

US Stock

It’s ISA deadline week! Here’s my 3-step game plan

Jon Smith tries to calm the hype around the last minute ISA rush to buy stocks and explains why he's…

Read more »

Snowing on Jubilee Gardens in London at dusk
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in BAE Systems shares at Christmas is now worth…

BAE Systems shares have been surging in the FTSE 100 in 2025, driven higher by the wavering US commitment to…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Up 19% in 2 weeks, can the Tesla share price rebound further?

Tesla's first-quarter delivery numbers came out today. Will they help persuade our writer to invest his money at the current…

Read more »