A 7% dividend yield from a FTSE 100 stalwart! Should I buy?

Here’s an industry giant looking to take the crown as leader from its largest competitors, all while paying a whopping 7% dividend yield!

| 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.

Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.

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.

Imperial Brands (LSE:IMB) is currently the sixth highest yielding blue-chip enterprise in the FTSE 100 stock right now. And since the start of the year, shares are up almost 18%. That’s more than double what its parent index typically delivers in a year, both in terms of capital gains and yield!

So is this a screaming buying opportunity for income investors?

Advantages of investing in tobacco

As investors have become more health-conscious over the years, tobacco companies aren’t on everyone’s wishlist. The rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing strategies has added some stigma on these enterprises, which isn’t helpful for management teams looking to increase the stock price.

Should you invest £1,000 in Imperial Brands 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 Imperial Brands made the list?

See the 6 stocks

However, this lack of interest has also been a bit of a blessing for income investors. As there’s less interest in owning tobacco stocks, these shares often trade at low multiples, paving the way for higher yields. This is why shareholders have enjoyed payouts ranging 6-9% since 2018.

A new spark of growth

Opponents of this enterprise often argue that the tobacco industry’s slowly shrinking. And looking at volumes, there’s an argument to be made here. Imperial Brands has suffered a steady decline in combustible product volumes for several years now.

So far, this decline’s been managed and offset through price increases that have enabled dividends to keep on flowing. However, management isn’t blind to the changing landscape. And a lot of funding’s being channelled into non-combustible products such as vapes in the group’s Next-Generation Products (NGP) segment. So far, this decision’s proving quite lucrative.

NGP net revenue over the six months ended March came in 16.8% higher, beating initial expectations. That’s quite significant given its chief rival, British American Tobacco, seems to be struggling to meet its targets with its own range of NGP products.

It’s worth pointing out that analysts at Barclays have started speculating that Imperial Brands may be on track to outgrow its larger competitor in the long run. If that proves accurate, some tremendous growth may lie ahead.

What could go wrong?

As impressive as the double-digit growth NGP’s delivering, it’s important to put things into context. It still remains a relatively small part of Imperial’s revenue stream, with traditional tobacco the primary driver of cash flow. Not to mention this segment remains unprofitable.

If management can keep up its current momentum, this balance might shift within a few years, especially since NGP losses are also shrinking. However, the impact of increasingly strict regulation within this space introduces a lot of long-term uncertainty.

Suppose Imperial Brands cannot transition away from cigarettes before regulator pressure causes combustible volumes to drop significantly. In that case, today’s mighty dividend yield may end up on the chopping block.

The bottom line

All things considered, I’m cautiously optimistic about the future of this rising tobacco enterprise. It seems to be better positioned than its main rival, with a stronger grip on the non-combustible market, I feel. However, the long-term uncertainty gives me pause.

So while I’m personally not interested in adding this enterprise to my portfolio, other income investors may want to take a closer look.

Should you invest £1,000 in Imperial Brands 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 Imperial Brands made the list?

See the 6 stocks

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.

Zaven Boyrazian has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc, British American Tobacco P.l.c., and Imperial Brands 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.

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

Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

Around a 1-year high, is there enough value left in Next’s share price to make it worth me buying?

Next’s share price has risen a lot in eight months, but there could still be a lot of value left…

Read more »

Group of young friends toasting each other with beers in a pub
Investing Articles

OMG DYOR but IMO this ‘cool’ FTSE 100 stock offers bangin’ VFM!

Despite being one of the least trendy 50-somethings around, our writer considers how Gen Z could help push this FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 cheap FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 growth stocks to consider as stock markets sink

I think these Footsie and FTSE 250 growth shares could be very shrewd buys to consider in the current climate.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 shares I’ve bought in the 2025 stock market sell-off

The stock market has experienced a lot of turbulence in recent weeks. Edward Sheldon has been taking advantage and buying…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Investors considering HSBC shares could aim for £8,453 a year in passive income from just £5 a day!

A relatively small daily investment in HSBC shares over several years can produce an extraordinary level of annual passive income…

Read more »

Investing Articles

The Rolls-Royce share price has fallen! Is this the moment investors have been waiting for?

Even the Rolls-Royce share price can't escape current stock market volatility, falling slightly over the last week. Should investors consider…

Read more »

Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

Down 59% from its 12-month highs, is this FTSE 250 stock too cheap to ignore?

Shares in FTSE 250 housebuilder Vistry are almost certainly too cheap to ignore. But are they discounted enough to offset…

Read more »

Young Asian woman with head in hands at her desk
Investing Articles

As the S&P 500 struggles to recover, here’s what Warren Buffett’s doing

The S&P 500 is fighting to regain its February highs amid ongoing trade tariff uncertainty. Our writer looks to the…

Read more »