I believe FTSE 100 megacap Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSB) is a very attractive high-income stock. But I’m also considering diversifying my dividends from the energy sector. With this in mind, I’ll discuss not only Shell in this article, but also FTSE 250-listed Greencoat UK Wind (LSE: UKW). I see this wind farm owner as a good option to sit alongside the oil giant.
Immediate outlook
As stock markets crashed last week, the price of oil also slumped, and Shell fell more heavily than the overall FTSE 100. As I’m writing today, stock markets, the price of oil, and Shell’s shares have recovered a little. However, at around 1,700p, the Shell share price is 16% below its pre-crash February high, and 32% below its 52-week high.
City analysts expect the company to maintain its dividend at $1.88 per share for 2020. At current exchange rates, this translates to 146p, and gives a glorious yield of 8.6%. The dividend would be covered 1.3 times by forecast earnings.
The dividend cover isn’t particularly strong, and this has been the situation for a number of years. Indeed, some years, earnings haven’t covered the dividend at all. For this reason, Shell’s annual payout has been stuck at $1.88 per share since 2014.
Looking to the future
My colleague Roland Head explained in an excellent article last year how Shell is managing the business for a future of lower worldwide oil consumption. It’s limiting spending on new oil projects, and maximising cash generation from its existing operations.
I can see the current strategy supporting the dividend for a good decade at least. However, in the long term, the company will need to tilt into other areas as oil consumption falls.
Shell hasn’t cut its dividend since World War II. However, if major merger & acquisition opportunities in new areas came along that management felt could help secure the company’s long-term future in light of declining fossil-fuel consumption, and such investment required rebasing the dividend, I believe management would do so (and be right to).
All in all, I see Shell as a good high-income buy. I think the dividend looks safe for the short and medium term – all else being equal – but with perhaps above-average risk of a future rebasing.
The future’s here already
Greencoat UK Wind, which released its latest annual results last week, is well positioned for the cleaner energy future. It’s the leading listed renewable infrastructure fund, invested in UK wind farms. As of the year end, its portfolio consisted of 35 operating wind farm investments.
Listed on the stock market in 2013, the company’s aim is: “To provide shareholders with an annual dividend that increases in line with RPI inflation while preserving the capital value of the investment portfolio in real terms.”
For 2019, the company declared total dividends of 6.94p per share. For 2020, its targeting 7.1p, an increase for the seventh consecutive year in line with RPI. At a current share price of 142p (up 1.3% on the day), the prospective yield is bang on 5%.
The company’s valued at £2.155bn, a premium of 17% to its net asset value. However, I think the premium is merited, given the low-risk nature of the business and reliability of its cash flows (and dividends). I rate it a ‘buy’ at this level, and a diversifying energy stock to hold alongside Shell.
