3 reliable dividend-paying trusts to consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA

Looking to open a Stocks and Shares ISA? Here are three great UK investment trusts with a long track record of increasing dividends.

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Dividends are a great way to build compounding returns in a Stocks and Shares ISA. With tons of reliable investment trusts in Britain, it’s easy to find those that pay regular and reliable dividends.

UK residents can make the most of their returns with an annual £20k tax-free ISA allowance.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

Should you invest £1,000 in The City Of London Investment Trust Plc 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 The City Of London Investment Trust Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Investment trusts offer instant access to a highly diversified portfolio of stocks, often across various industries and regions. Since professionals manage them, the returns are usually reliable — although they typically incur a small fee of around 1%.

Here, I’m going to highlight three investment trusts that have a long track record of paying reliable dividends. I think they could be worth considering as initial investments in a new ISA.

Value in the City

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3City Of London Investment Trust Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

City of London Investment Trust (LSE: CTY) is considered the number one dividend hero by The Association of Investment Companies. It’s been paying an increasing dividend for 58 consecutive years.

It holds assets across eight European countries with a heavy weighting towards UK stocks. This means it risks losses if the UK economy declines. While the yield of 4.7% is far from the highest in the UK, its track record is reliable. When aiming for long-term passive income, I like this type of stock. I can set it up with a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) and leave it to grow.

The price increased 188% since 1994, equating to an annualised return of 3.6% a year. That’s below the FTSE 100 average but is normal for stocks that deliver value via dividends.

The property play

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Value And Indexed Property Income Trust Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

UK real estate has become a core focus of my investing strategy since the Labour Party took power. Just how effective its new housing policies will be remains to be seen – but I’m optimistic.

Value and Indexed Property Income Trust (LSE: VIP) invests in high-yielding but less popular sectors of UK commercial property. It boasts an attractive 6.8% yield and has been increasing its dividend for 37 consecutive years.

The five-year dividend growth rate’s small, at only 2.27%, but payments are reliable and consistent. And with the price up 28% in 10 years, its annualised return’s 2.5%. However, this growth’s largely cancelled out by the higher-than-average ongoing charge of 1.88%.

Investing in property-related trusts can be risky though. If a global crisis sends the economy into freefall, real estate could be hit hard. This is reflected in the trust’s volatile price, falling sharply in 2008 and 2020. 

The banker’s choice

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

With a 4.83% yield, JPMorgan Claverhouse (LSE: JCH) is another investment trust with a great track record. Its dividend has increased for 51 consecutive years, with a five-year growth rate of 4.64%.

This trust also holds some of the top stocks on the FTSE 100, including Shell, AstraZeneca and HSBC. It’s similar to, and could be considered as an alternative to, the City of London. The yield’s slightly higher but with a bit less growth over the past 30 years. It’s up 120% in three decades, delivering an annualised return of 2.7%.

It has a low-risk gearing range of between 0 and 20%, currently at 8%. Still, with a focus mainly on UK stocks, it’s at risk of losses if the local economy falters. It also has an ongoing charge of 0.7%, which eats into profits.

But here’s another bargain investment that looks absurdly dirt-cheap:

Like buying £1 for 31p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this Share Advisor pick has a price/book ratio of 0.31. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 31p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 10%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

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.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Mark Hartley has positions in City Of London Investment Trust Plc and HSBC Holdings. The Motley Fool UK has recommended AstraZeneca Plc and HSBC Holdings. 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.

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