Here are the latest dividend yield forecasts for Legal & General, Aviva, and M&G shares

If someone’s looking for high dividend yields on the London Stock Exchange, these three Footsie financial stocks are definitely worth checking out.

| 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.

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.

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart

Image source: Getty Images

Financial stocks like Legal & General (LSE: LGEN), Aviva (LSE: AV.) and M&G (LSE: MNG) have been great sources of income in recent years. At times, they’ve been offering dividend yields of up to 10%.

Interested to know how much income could be on offer from these stocks in the years ahead? Let’s take a look at the latest dividend forecasts for these three FTSE 100 shares.

Starting with Legal & General, it’s forecast to pay out 21.7p per share in dividends for 2025 and 22.2p per share for 2026. At today’s share price of 256p, that puts the forecast yields at 8.5% and 8.7%.

Now, they’re obviously attractive yields and more than double what most high-interest savings accounts are paying these days. However, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the investing world. So what are the risks here?

Well, one is turbulence in the financial markets. This could affect the value of assets the insurer has on its balance sheet and lead to operating losses (and potentially share price losses).

Another is less demand for pension risk transfer solutions. It’s worth noting that analysts at RBC just downgraded the stock to Underperform from Sector Perform and cut their price target to 220p on the back of concerns here.

Personally, I think the stock’s worth considering for income today. However, investors do need to acknowledge that there are some risks here and that share price weakness could offset any income received.

Aviva

Turning to Aviva, it’s forecast to pay out 38.1p per share for 2025 and 40.8p per share for 2026. At today’s share price of 636p, we have prospective yields of 6% and 6.4%. These yields aren’t as high as Legal & General’s, but they’re still attractive. The average forward-looking yield across the FTSE 100 right now is about 3.2%. So Aviva’s offering nearly double that.

The risks here are quite similar to Legal & General’s. In relation to pension risk transfer, the company actually advised recently that volumes this year are likely to be lower than in 2024. One other thing worth highlighting here is that the stock’s had a very strong run in 2025. Year to date, it’s up about 35%.

I think it’s still worth considering as an income play. But bear in mind that after that kind of run, it could be subject to some profit taking.

M&G

Finally, zooming in on M&G, analysts expect payouts of 20.6p and 21.1p per share here. Given that the share price is sitting at 259p, we have yields of 8% and 8.2%. I see this stock as a bit of an undiscovered income gem. It’s not nearly as popular as stocks like Legal & General and Aviva, but its yield’s excellent.

It also has a good track in terms of dividend growth. Since it was spun off from Prudential in 2019, it’s increased its dividend every year.

Again, turbulence in the financial markets is a risk factor here. It’s worth noting that this stock can be quite volatile at times. Yet I see quite a bit of appeal. In my view, it’s worth considering for income.

Edward Sheldon has positions in Prudential and London Stock Exchange Group. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Prudential 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

Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Investing Articles

Could this cheap FTSE 100 stock be the next Rolls-Royce?

Paul Summers casts his eye over a battered-but-high-quality FTSE 100 stock. Is this the next top-tier company to stage a…

Read more »

ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

Hesitant over a Stocks and Shares ISA? Here’s a way to deal with scary markets

Volatile stock markets are scaring potential investors away from getting started with their first Stocks and Shares ISA in 2026.

Read more »

This way, That way, The other way - pointing in different directions
Market Movers

Standard Life’s announced a £2bn deal but its share price is largely unchanged. Why?

James Beard considers why the Standard Life share price didn’t take off today (15 April) after the group announced it…

Read more »

Happy parents playing with little kids riding in box
Investing Articles

Up 12% in a month, Hollywood Bowl is a UK dividend stock on a roll

This 5%-yielding dividend stock was one of the top performers in the FTSE 250 index today. What sent it flying…

Read more »

Close-up of children holding a planet at the beach
Investing Articles

Young investors are taking the stock market on a rollercoaster ride. Here’s how retirees can buckle up

Mark Hartley reveals the volatile impact that younger investors are having on the stock market and how UK retirees can…

Read more »

Two female adult friends walking through the city streets at Christmas. They are talking and smiling as they do some Christmas shopping.
Investing Articles

£7,500 invested in Aviva shares 5 years ago is now worth…

A lump sum pumped into Aviva shares half a decade ago has grown a lot. Andrew Mackie looks at the…

Read more »

Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

Could £20,000 invested in these 5 dividend shares produce £14,760 of passive income over the next 10 years?

James Beard considers the potential of dividend shares to deliver amazing levels of passive income. Here are five that have…

Read more »

Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

At 570p, is it too late to consider buying BP shares?

Since the end of February, when the conflict in the Middle East started, BP shares have soared nearly 20%. But…

Read more »