With income stocks, it’s not just about the dividend per share. Rather, it’s the overall divdiend yield that’s important, as this metric can be used to fairly compare one stock to another.
When building a robust second income, here are several shares that stack up well against the competition.
Plenty of options
For comparison, the FTSE 250 average yield is currently 3.52%. To try to push for a four-figure monthly passive income stream, I’d target companies with a yield double the average. Fortunately, this isn’t a crazy idea. In fact, 21 stocks currently have dividend yields above 7%. This means an investor has plenty of choices to pick a diversified mix of stocks.
Chesnara’s a classic cash cow insurer, focused on managing pension books that generate predictable, long-term cash flows. That steady stream of surplus capital has supported a long track record of progressive dividends, making it particularly attractive for income investors. The current dividend yield is 7.73%.
Supermarket Income REIT has a dividend yield of 7.64%. It owns large grocery stores, let to major UK supermarkets on long, inflation-linked leases. That combination of essential retail tenants and built-in rent increases provides highly visible, resilient income.
Primary Health Properties invests in GP surgeries and healthcare facilities, with most rents ultimately backed by government funding. I like the stock because it combines the defensive nature of healthcare demand with long leases and inflation-linked income. It has a yield of 7.79%.
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Each stock mentioned has its own risks, which should be carefully considered before making any investment decision.
Investing £600 a month in a range of stocks with an average yield of 7% could see a portfolio grow quickly. With dividends reinvested, it would take just under 15 years to have at least £1,000 a month being paid out on average. Of course, trying to forecast this far into the future is tough. So it could take more or less time in reality to reach this goal.
Ongoing transformation
Another example that could be considered for this strategy is Aberdeen Group (LSE:ABDN). Over the past year, the share price is up 53%, yet it still has a high dividend yield of 7.48%.
As a fund manager, Aberdeen’s revenues are closely tied to assets under management. When markets rise, so do client portfolios and the fees earned on them. Even with the volatility in March, the stock market performance in the past year has been very strong.
This has acted to stem outflows. For 2025, the business recorded a net outflow of £1.7bn, well below the £6.1bn in the year before.
Of course, I’d like the business to be posting net inflows. A key risk going forward is continued outflows. But the company’s undergoing a strategic transformation, so investors should be patient.
It’s changing from a traditional asset manager into a broader wealth platform. The acquisition and growth of Interactive Investor has been key here, with that division now contributing a significant chunk of profits and benefiting from the DIY investing boom. In other words, Aberdeen’s becoming less reliant on struggling active funds and more exposed to structurally growing areas.
I think all of this not only means the dividend is secure, but also makes it a stock I think investors could consider.
