2 FTSE 100 dividend stocks I’d buy for my ISA today

Edward Sheldon highlights two FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) dividend stocks that he would buy before the ISA deadline.

| 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.

With the ISA deadline just two weeks away now (April 5), today I’ll be looking at two FTSE 100 dividend stocks that I’d buy for my ISA right now. Both stocks have excellent dividend track records and could offer a nice mix of capital growth and income going forward, in my opinion.

Strong competitive advantage

A consumer goods company that owns a portfolio of health and hygiene brands, Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) is certainly not the world’s most exciting stock. But that doesn’t bother me as the company has an incredible track record of generating shareholder wealth. Indeed, according to a recent article in Money Observer, had you invested just £100 in Reckitt when the FTSE 100 was created back in 1984, that investment would now be worth over £10,000, which is an incredible return. Looking ahead, I think there could be further gains to come.

The strength of Reckitt lies in the power of its brands. Names such as Nurofen, Dettol, and Strepsils are trusted by people all over the world, and this provides the group with a strong competitive advantage, which translates to consistent revenues and profits. With talk of the global economy slowing down, and Brexit casting doubt on the strength of the UK economy, Reckitt is the ideal stock to own in my view, as it could offer some protection in a downturn due to the nature of its business.

Given Reckitt’s excellent long-term track record, the stock rarely trades cheaply. Right now, it’s trading on a forward P/E of 18.6 and sporting a dividend yield of around 2.8%. However, the way I see it is that like many things in life, you get what you pay for. For a business of Reckitt’s quality, I think the valuation is fair. With CEO Rakesh Kapoor recently telling investors that the group is “well positioned for long-term, sustainable growth,” I think now is a good time to be accumulating the shares.

Contrarian buy

Another FTSE 100 dividend stock that I’d buy for my ISA right now is defence giant BAE Systems (LSE: BA). Its share price took a hit late last year and at present, with the stock trading on a forward P/E of just 10.9, I see a lot of value on the table.

One of the reasons that BAE’s share price has declined recently is that there’s uncertainty over its relationship with Saudi Arabia (where it generates a large proportion of sales) after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in October. Just recently, the group warned that the “current German government position on export licensing may affect the Group’s ability to provide capability to Saudi Arabia, which may have a consequential impact on financial performance and relationships.”

However, the general consensus among my Fool colleagues is that there is likely to be a pragmatic outcome to this issue and that after the recent share price dip, the shares are an attractive ‘contrarian’ buy.

BAE Systems has a good dividend growth track record and the stock currently offers a prospective yield of a healthy 4.8%. That yield and the stock’s low valuation are hard to ignore right now.

Edward Sheldon owns shares in Reckitt Benckiser and BAE Systems. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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

Two elderly people relaxing in the summer sunshine Box Hill near Dorking Surrey England
Investing Articles

Forget the FTSE 100 and come back after summer? Here’s my plan!

With the FTSE 100 moving around in a volatile way, should our writer just forget all about it for a…

Read more »

Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in a Stocks and Shares ISA 5 years ago could now be worth…

The last five years have been something of a roller coaster for the markets. How would £20k in a Stocks…

Read more »

Man hanging in the balance over a log at seaside in Scotland
Investing Articles

Stock market correction: a once-in-a-decade chance to build big passive income?

Ben McPoland takes a closer look at a high-yield passive income stock from the FTSE 250 that investors have been…

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

In volatile markets, could National Grid dividends be a safe haven?

National Grid offers a dividend yield well above the FTSE 100 and aims to keep growing its payout per share.…

Read more »

Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

Down 25%, are Barclays shares simply too cheap to ignore?

Barclays shares have given up a chunk of their recent gains since the Middle East powder keg ignited. Should investors…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

How much would someone need in an ISA to target a £1,000 monthly second income?

Christopher Ruane explains how someone could use an empty Stocks and Shares ISA to target a four-figure monthly second income…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Are investors taking a big gamble chasing Rolls-Royce shares higher and higher?

With Rolls-Royce shares having fallen back from their peak, the temptation to see this as a buying opportunity must be…

Read more »

Cargo containers with European Union and British flags reflecting Brexit and restrictions in export and import
Investing Articles

Down 70%, is Fevertree Drinks a share to consider buying at 815p?

Fevertree reported its 2025 earnings today and the investors liked what they saw. So is this a share to consider…

Read more »