3 passive income ideas I’d use now to target £380 a month!

Investing in three blue-chip FTSE 100 shares, our writer believes he could earn substantial passive income streams. Here’s 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.

Close-up of British bank notes

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.

One of my favourite passive income ideas I like to use (and do already) is buying dividend shares.

Not all shares pay dividends and those that do can stop at any time. But by building a diversified portfolio of carefully-selected blue-chip companies with proven business models, I would hope to earn substantial and indeed growing passive income streams over the course of time.

One share I already own for income

Let me illustrate by discussing some pros and cons of me owning three specific shares – two of which I already own and one I would be happy to buy if I had spare cash.

The first example’s British American Tobacco. The company makes and sells tobacco products globally under a range of brands such as Lucky Strike.

Such premium branding, combined with the addictiveness of tobacco, mean that the company generates a lot of free cash flow. It has a sizeable amount of debt, but still the dividends are big.

The payout per share has grown annually for decades. At the moment, the share has a dividend yield of 8.3%, meaning that I ought to earn £83 in passive income annually for every £1,000 I invest today.

Always consider the risks

Still, whether that happens depends partly on how well British American navigates a landscape of changing habits, as global cigarette sales look set to shrink over time.

All businesses face risks – and successful investors take them seriously. M&G (LSE: MNG), for example, could see rocky economic markets reduce demand for its asset management services. Even in a strong market, if its managers don’t perform well, clients may take their money elsewhere.

Still, the long-term demand picture for asset management seems better to me than that for cigarettes. M&G has a well-known brand and large customer base. It operates in a couple of dozen markets and has both retail and institutional clients.

The business has a proven capability to generate cash that has let it pay sizeable dividends.

The current yield of 9.4% is among the highest of any FTSE 100 company. M&G aims to maintain or increase its dividend per share each year. If it delivers on that (and remember no dividend’s ever guaranteed),my stake could see me earn growing passive income streams in years to come.

Doing the maths

I would also be happy to buy into insurer Aviva, which announced a dividend increase this week. It benefits from a large customer base and well-known brands. I think its strategy of trying to cross-sell more products to existing clients seems to be working.

The firm cut its dividend in 2020 and one risk I see is rising claim settlement costs eating into long-term profitability. But I like its prospects – and the 6.7% yield.

Investing equally in those three income shares, my average yield would be 8.3%. So if I invested a little under £55,000 today, I’d be on track for average passive income of £380 a month. With less money, I could follow exactly the same approach on a smaller scale.

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.

C Ruane has positions in British American Tobacco P.l.c. and M&g Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. and M&g Plc. 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

Investing Articles

£20K invested in Tesla stock last April is now worth…

Despite all the bad headlines lately, Tesla stock has put in a storming performance over a 12-month timeframe. Is this…

Read more »

Investing Articles

If a 40 year old invests £600 a month in a SIPP, here’s what they could have by retirement

With no retirement savings at 40, an investor could put £600 a month into a SIPP and grow its value…

Read more »

Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

Why hasn’t its 9.9% yield boosted the Phoenix share price?

Phoenix Group has a dividend close to double digits, but saw a weak share price performance in recent years. Christopher…

Read more »

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

With average 10% yields, these mid-cap FTSE shares could supercharge a passive income portfolio

Some of the best passive income gems can be found on the UK's smaller indexes like the FTSE 250 and…

Read more »

A coin being dropped into a piggy bank
Investing Articles

As the Barclays share price tanks 19% in 2 days, is this a great buying opportunity?

As a trade war sends the Barclays share price into a tailspin, Andrew Mackie steps back to look at the…

Read more »

Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Is Fundsmith Equity still a good choice for a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2025?

Many Britons hold the Fundsmith Equity fund in their Stocks and Shares ISAs. Is this still a good move? Edward…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Nvidia stock is down 24% this year. Time to buy the dip?

Christopher Ruane has been eyeing Nvidia stock as a potential addition to his portfolio for a while. Is a recent…

Read more »

Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Down 25% since January, this resilient dividend stock’s catching my eye

Maintaining the UK’s rail, water, and energy infrastructure isn’t the most exciting business. But it has made this a solid…

Read more »