How much would someone need to invest in UK shares to earn a £2,000 monthly passive income?

Is it possible to target several thousand pounds of passive income monthly by buying blue-chip dividend shares? Yes — and 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.

A young woman sitting on a couch looking at a book in a quiet library space.

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.

Last year, banking giant HSBC doled out £8.4bn in dividends. Some of that went to institutional shareholders. Some went to strategic investors. And a fair bit went to people who own HSBC – and other UK shares — primarily because of their passive income potential.

In fact, a lot of investors focus their passive income efforts on buying shares in proven blue-chip companies that typically pay out dividends to shareholders.

That can be lucrative, though, like any investment, it comes with some risks.

Should you invest £1,000 in Vistra Energy Corp. 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 Vistra Energy Corp. made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Below I outline how an investor could target a £2,000 per month average income either now or down the line by buying UK dividend shares.

Doing the dividend maths

To begin, I will explain the maths.

A monthly £2k equates to £24k per year. How much someone needs to spend on shares to earn that will depend on the average dividend yield of the shares they buy. Dividend yield is basically  the dividends earned annually as a percentage of the cost.

So, for example, at a 5% yield, it would be necessary to spend £480k on shares to hit the passive income target.

That is a lot of money. But one good thing about the current valuation of many blue-chip UK shares is that it means the yield can be quite attractive.

While the FTSE 100 average yield is 3.6%, in today’s market I think it is realistically possible to target 7% while sticking to quality companies.

Why a long-term approach can help

Still, even at 7%, the upfront investment needed would be substantial, at around £343,000.

But for those serious about setting up passive income streams and willing to take a long-term approach, there is another way, even starting from zero.    

For example, say that an investor puts £860 per month into the stock market and it compounds at 7% (by reinvesting dividends initially).

After 18 years, the portfolio will be big enough so that, at a 7% yield, it can generate over £2k each month on average as passive income.

Finding shares to buy

I said I think a 7% yield is realistic in the current market.

One of the UK shares I had in mind in that context, that I think investors should consider, is British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS).

There is clearly a big risk here: the company makes most of its money selling cigarettes and demand for those is declining in most markets.

Still, although in decline, it remains huge – British American sells billions every week. Thanks to its portfolio of premium brands, it has pricing power that enables it to fund a big dividend.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3British American Tobacco P.l.c. PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

The yield currently stands at 7.9%. British American also has a track record of raising its dividend per share annually for decades, although that does not necessarily mean it will keep doing so.

Although cigarettes are a declining market, non-cigarette sales are growing fast. I think British American’s well-established brands can help it do well in that space.

Getting ready to invest

One thing I have not mentioned above is the practical side of getting started.

That would take a way to buy UK shares, such as a dealing account or Stocks and Shares ISA.

With lots of choices available, it can pay for an investor to take time and research what looks best for them.

Should you invest £1,000 in Vistra Energy Corp. 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 Vistra Energy Corp. 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.

C Ruane has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. 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.

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 »